Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Apologizes to Freed Hostage Edan Alexander

In a powerful and emotional meeting, former Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar personally apologized to freed hostage Edan Alexander for Israel’s failure to secure his release, acknowledging that it was American envoy Steve Witkoff rather than Israeli security forces who made Alexander’s freedom possible.

“I want to apologize to you for falling into captivity also because of us, and for the fact that you were released thanks to Witkoff and not thanks to us,” Bar reportedly told Alexander, according to a report by N12. The rare admission comes amid mounting pressure on Israeli leadership to do more for the hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.

Alexander, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was kidnapped during the Hamas attacks on October 7 and held in Gaza until his release earlier this month. During his meeting with Bar, he shared harrowing details of his trauma during the initial massacre and the fear and hardship he endured while being held by terrorists.

The timing of the apology is significant. It comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named Maj. Gen. David Zini as the new head of the Shin Bet, despite a recent High Court ruling stating that Bar’s dismissal was unlawful due to Netanyahu’s ongoing conflict of interest in the “Qatargate” affair.

The exchange between Bar and Alexander also coincides with stalled ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Qatar. Israeli sources confirmed that the delegation had been recalled due to Hamas's refusal to engage meaningfully. Hamas is reportedly demanding an American guarantee that the war will end entirely, a move that would leave the terror group in control of Gaza.

An official close to the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post, “We are awaiting Hamas’s response and will send the delegation back to Qatar as needed.”

Alexander’s release and Bar’s heartfelt apology underscore the personal toll of the October 7 attacks and the ongoing national mission to bring every hostage home. While Israel continues to act militarily and diplomatically to resolve the crisis, the moral weight of those still in captivity remains front and center.

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