Metzada unit


Metzada unit is the Israeli Prison Service hostage rescue and special operations unit, one of five hostage rescue units in Israel.
The unit operates during complex occurrences that take place within the correctional facilities all over the country. The unit is nationwide and it's directly subordinate to the IPS chief of operations.
Since 2006 Metzada is also IDF General Staff subordinate unit and operates at IDF missions subject to the approval of the IPS Commissioner. Metzada unit specializes in working with non-lethal weapons. Unit's instructors consult and assist on the subject for all Israeli Defense Community.

Responsibilities

  1. Hostage rescue
  2. * Hostage rescue in IPS correctional facilities.
  3. * Hostage rescue in IDF correctional facilities.
  4. * Hostage rescue in IPS prisoner transport vehicles.
  5. Detection and arrest of escaped prisoners, including arrests in Judea and Samaria Area.
  6. Other kind of IPS activities
  7. * Assistance for other IPS units during raids at correctional facilities.
  8. * Riot control at IDF and IPS correctional facilities.
  9. * Intelligence gathering by various methods.
  10. Assistance for IDF and Israel Police at operational activities.

    Organization and structure

Metzada unit is nationwide and directly subordinate to the chief of operations of the IPS. Unit's operators are IPS personnel on payroll with combat experience from their military service within the Israel Defense Forces.
Recruitment requirements are: IDF combat service, sergeant\ officer course graduate and high level of physical fitness. The selection process includes a number of long physical and psychological tests. In the end of the process only the few candidates proceed to Metzada Operator training course, which takes place in the unit's training center. Overall, only one percent of candidates become Metzada Operators.
After the completion of a six-month course, the unit members are divided into sections. The unit is formed of two major sections: takeover and the break in. The takeover section specializes in aspects related to any takeover, including the takeover of cells within the prison or a prisoner transport vehicles. The break in section specializes in deployment of explosives and door breaching.
At the sections, the operators specialize in various professions: roping, breach and entry, K-9, sniping, negotiation, etc.

History

Metzada unit was established in 2003 by IPS Commissioner Yaakov Ganot as a response to increased level of personnel assaults and hostage kidnapping attempts performed by prisoners during that period. Until 2003 there was no hostage rescue unit in IPS, so in case of emergency situations it would have to depend on other organizations, such as Israel Police and IDF.
Since 2006 Metzada is also IDF General Staff subordinate unit and it's responsible for hostage rescue at IDF correctional facilities.

Published operational record (2003–today)