A Conversation with A Retired Israeli Security Agency Negotiator

On August 28 the Program on Extremism had a conversation with Adi Rotem, a retired Israeli Security Agency officer and the former lead negotiator during the hostage crisis that followed the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The discussion focused on the threat Hamas posed to Israel before October 7, a personal account of the attack on the day itself, and Adi Rotem’s experience with the hostage negotiations that followed. Moderated by Senior Research Fellow David Zimmermann.

On August 28^th, 2025, The George Washington University’s Program on Extremism hosted a virtual conversation with Adi Rotem, a retired Israeli Security Agency (ISA/Shabak) officer and lead hostage negotiator after October 7. The event was moderated by Senior Research Fellow Dave Zimmerman.

The discussion opened with Rotem outlining his 25-year career in counterterrorism, operational intelligence, and cyber within the ISA, and his recent role as Israel’s senior hostage negotiator. He highlighted his expertise as an Arabist with extensive experience in the Palestinian arena, including Gaza.

Rotem emphasized that Hamas was long considered Israel’s primary threat in the Palestinian arena due to its uncompromising jihadist ideology. While Israel hoped that governing Gaza might moderate Hamas, the October 7 attacks proved otherwise, revealing that Hamas prioritized ideology over responsibility for civilians.

He described the morning of October 7 as chaotic and traumatic: initial reports of four hostages and 20 deaths quickly escalated to hundreds of hostages and over 1,200 murdered. The ISA had to rapidly create order out of confusion to prepare for negotiations. Coordination with the U.S. was critical, and President Biden’s strong message of deterrence provided reassurance.

As lead negotiator, Rotem explained that the scale of October 7 transformed the process from a one-variable equation into a multivariable crisis involving hundreds of hostages of different ages and nationalities. Working alongside the IDF, Mossad, and mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., he applied a structured methodology of building trust, mapping interests, and negotiating price. Minor early deals paved the way for the larger November 23rd agreement, which secured the release of 105 hostages, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners.

He acknowledged the daily challenges of maintaining the agreement, including Hamas separating children from mothers and constant logistical disruptions. Rotem emphasized the importance of cultural awareness and fluency in Arabic, which helped build credibility with mediators.

Currently, negotiations remain stalled: Israel insists on a comprehensive deal to release all hostages and end the war, while Hamas seeks partial agreements to retain leverage. Rotem noted that increased military pressure may be necessary to bring Hamas back to the table, with Qatar and Egypt holding critical influence.

In response to questions, Rotem reflected on the emotional toll of leaving some hostages behind and the strategic importance of early trust-building deals. He affirmed that Hamas views negotiations as a zero-sum game, driven by ideology, not governance. His advice to future negotiators was to rely on tactical empathy, active listening, and learning from failure.