Investigations and Intelligence Division – Gideon Unit Unit 33 – The Gideon Unit or Gideon’s Sword, is an elite police unit for combating terrorism and collecting secret intelligence under Blade 433 in the Israel Police.

• The Gideonim Unit (Unit 33) is the elite operational unit of Lahav 433 in the Israel Police. It is considered one of the most skilled undercover and counter-terrorism units, and operates with great secrecy against serious crime and terrorism.
• The essence of the unit and its mission
• Organizational affiliation: The unit is subordinate to Lahav 433, the “Israeli FBI”, which is responsible for the fight against organized crime, public corruption and terrorism.
• Combination of capabilities: The uniqueness of the unit lies in the combination of covert field intelligence gathering (reconnaissance and surveillance) with combat and infiltration capabilities at the highest level.
• Role definition: The unit constitutes the operational “spearhead” for thwarting mega-attacks, arresting terrorists in the heart of hostile territories, and cracking down on complex criminal organizations

·        • Role: The unit specializes in collecting covert field intelligence, complex arrest operations, and combating terrorism and serious crime.·        • Operational activity (as of March 2026)·        • Current activity As of March 2026, the unit operates intensively in arrest operations of wanted individuals in Judea and Samaria, sometimes in cooperation with the IDF and the Shin Bet.·        • The “Iron Swords” War: The unit’s fighters were among the first forces to jump into the Gaza encirclement on October 7, 2023, where they rescued hostages (for example, in Kfar Gaza) and eliminated dozens of terrorists.·        • Counterterrorism in the Territories: The unit routinely carries out undercover arrests in the heart of Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin to thwart terrorist cells and seize weapons.·        • Fighting crime: The fighters arrest leaders of armed criminal organizations, raid weapons complexes, and deal with serious incidents of violence in various sectors.·        • Undercover work: A significant portion of the activity is carried out in civilian clothes and camouflage in crowded places, which allows for the rapid “retrieval” of wanted persons without prior identification.·        • Training and recruitment track·        • The unit recruits fighters who have undergone an intensive training track that includes camouflage, small-scale warfare and intelligence·        • Prerequisites: Full combat service as a fighter in the IDF, preference given to graduates of a command course or special units/cruisers.·        • Training: An intensive track lasting approximately 9 months, which includes specialization in combat in built-up areas, shooting, operational driving, hand-to-hand combat, and classified intelligence gathering methods.·        • Growth: The unit continues to expand, and in May 2025 alone, 15 new fighters joined its ranks upon completion of training