Mossad agent ‘Mem,’ who died in 2023, contributed to Iran war success, spy chief reveals

A Mossad agent who died in an apparent boat accident in Italy in May 2023 led operations that contributed to Israel’s recent successes against Iran, spy chief David Barnea said Tuesday.

The agent, identifiable only by the first Hebrew letter of his name, “Mem,” was among four people who drowned when a boat capsized in Italy’s Lake Maggiore.

At the time, he was named by Italian media as 50-year-old Erez Shimoni, which is believed to be an alias. His real identity was not officially publicized, but is publicly available on official Israeli memorial sites.

“On this day,” Barnea said during a Memorial Day ceremony at Mossad headquarters, “I think about the fallen Mossad members and their choice to contribute over the years to Israel’s security.”

“During Operation Roaring Lion, my thoughts and heart were filled with pride in the person and work of ‘Mem,’ who fell outside of Israel while fulfilling his duties,” he said, referring to the recent war with Iran.

“The operation led by ‘Mem’ combined creativity, cunning, and advanced technology and significantly influenced the success of the campaign against Iran,” Barnea said.

Italian media reported at the time that the gathering where he died was a working meeting of intelligence agents. According to the reports, 19 out of the 23 people on board were serving or past Israeli and Italian agents.

Italy’s security service said that two of the dead — a 62-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman — were its employees.

Mem’s body was transported back to Israel for burial at Ashkelon’s military cemetery.

Senior Mossad officials, including Barnea, were at the funeral.

“He was a man of values, a true friend, a dedicated and loyal person,” Barnea said at the funeral. “You worked in secret throughout your adult life — even after your death, we will not be able to tell publicly about your many significant and beneficial actions for the people of Israel. For all of us,” he said.

He praised him as specializing in “pioneering fields and methods of operation.”

Claudio Carminati, the captain of the Gooduria tour boat, was sentenced to four years in a plea deal over the deaths of his passengers. When it sank, the boat was carrying 23 passengers when it could only legally hold 15. The captain’s wife was among the dead.

The boat was reportedly just 100 meters from the shore when it went down. Survivors were reportedly either picked up by other watercraft or swam ashore. Ten other Israelis were reportedly on the vessel and were said to have been quickly flown back to Israel on a private jet known to be used by Israeli authorities.

Times of Israel staff and agencies contributed to this report.