Shin Bet chief reportedly says he’ll remain until all hostages back, commission of inquiry established

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said he does not plan on stepping down from his post until all the hostages are returned and a state commission is established to probe failures surrounding the October 7 attack, according to Channel 12.

“I took responsibility and I intend to fulfill it,” he told senior employees in a closed-door meeting according to the report, referring to the failure to prevent the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. “But there is significance to the timing.”

Quotes from the spy chief carried by the channel indicate that his resignation will not occur until Israel secures the release of all hostages held in Gaza. “I am not satisfied with the return of 197 hostages. I am looking at the 59 who remain,” he is quoted saying. If quoted accurately, it was not clear why Bar referred to 197 returned hostages. As recently as Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that Israel has brought home 196 hostages, with 59 remaining in Gaza; the total comprises 251 seized on October 7 and four held since 2014-2015.

Bar reportedly added that he will also work to ensure that a state commission of inquiry is established, something currently opposed by the government.

“The moment I see that it is happening, I will want to hand the baton over to one of my excellent deputies,” he says, adding that he won’t allow the selection of his replacement to be imposed on the organization from the outside.

However, Netanyahu has been widely reported to be preparing to fire Bar; the premier recently removed him from the team negotiating the ongoing hostage-ceasefire deal.