16 Cadets Graduate From Israel Prison Services Elite Masada Unit
Sixteen cadets have graduated from the Israel Prison Service's elite "Masada" unit, completing rigorous training for hostage rescue and emergency response.
Jerusalem, 10 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Prison Service held a graduation ceremony for the 13th operators course of its elite “Masada” unit, marking the completion of six months of intensive training for 16 cadets who officially joined the unit’s ranks.
The training tested cadets’ operational capabilities, personal resilience, teamwork, and adherence to the unit’s performance standards. Masada serves as the Prison Service’s operational takeover unit, conducting hostage rescue operations, responding to extreme scenarios inside correctional facilities, and assisting the military in joint missions.
The unit specializes in less-lethal weapons and rapid emergency response, with operators required to demonstrate strong physical fitness, teamwork, and real-time decision-making under high-pressure conditions.