In brief
Aliza Magen, who dedicated 40 years to Israel's national intelligence agency, the Mossad, died on April 14, 2025, in Jerusalem, at the age of 87. Her extraordinary career, which saw her serve under three directors as their deputy, has made her an iconic figure in the realm of intelligence. Magen’s death was confirmed by a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office.
Joining the Mossad right after her mandatory military service, Magen spent more than two decades operating undercover across Europe, where her primary duties included managing agents and gathering intelligence. Among her many classified missions was a prolonged effort to counteract German scientists developing missiles for Egypt, which posed a significant threat to Israel. She notably succeeded in recruiting a former high-ranking Nazi officer to assist the Mossad.Her involvement in high-profile operations included participating in Operation Wrath of God, which aimed to track down those responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics attack that killed 11 Israelis. After returning to Israel in the early 1980s, Magen continued with the Mossad, eventually overseeing critical areas such as the Tzomet division and the agency’s operations center. Her contributions not only broke gender barriers within the intelligence community but also highlighted the pivotal role women can play in such covert operations.
