The YAMAM (ימ״מ) is an acronym in Hebrew for “Yeḥida Merkazit Meyuḥedet” (יחידה מרכזית מיוחדת) which translates to “Special Central Unit” and is otherwise known as the National Counter-Terrorism Unit. This unit falls under the Israeli Border Guard (MAGAV), which is under the Israeli National Police. The YAMAM was formed in the mid-70s after the Ma’alot Massacre demonstrated a need for a truly dedicated counter-terrorist and hostage rescue unit that would solely focus on those two missions.
The YAMAM only recruits operators who completed their service in elite special forces units in the IDF and have years of combat experience; that is why most of the operators in the unit are in their 30s and 40s. These already seasoned and experienced fighters are put through a grueling selection pipeline that involves months and years of intensive training, much of which is classified. The unit is believed to have around 100-200 operators in total. The YAMAM has been extensively involved in hundreds if not thousands of complex counter-terrorism operations in Judea/Samaria and Gaza. They have responded to numerous terrorist attacks in Israel and have become the preferred unit for any complex domestic operations.
The YAMAM is also one of the few units in the world with successful hostage rescue operations under its belt and probably the only unit that has completed this type of operation multiple times in the past decade. Hostage rescue is, without a doubt, the most complex and dangerous type of operation, and units can train for years to do it and still fail when the time comes. The YAMAM rescued hostages at numerous locations during 10/7 and conducted three more successful hostage-rescue operations in Gaza, including Operation ‘Arnon.’
The YAMAM has access to the best weapons and gear that Israel has to offer and routinely uses cutting-edge, experimental, and highly advanced classified technologies and methods to accomplish its missions.