Former IDF undercover operative reveals his identity, launches music career

An Israeli undercover operative who once concealed both his identity and his face is stepping into the spotlight – this time as a singer.

Matan Hassan, a 27-year-old retired Israeli military undercover officer formerly known only as “M” for security reasons, has launched a music career following the end of his reserve duty in the Israel Defense Forces. Releasing his debut album “Not Afraid” (Hebrew: “Lo Mifached”) under his real name, Hassan is now trading anonymity for a public stage.

Hassan, who lives in Tirat Yehuda in central Israel, first drew widespread attention during the war in Gaza, when he performed songs such as “Be a Human Being” and “I’m Coming Back.” At the time, his identity remained hidden – he appeared in an IDF uniform, his face covered by a balaclava mask, blending performance with the secrecy that defined his military service.

That changed recently when Hassan was invited to perform at Israel’s Independence Day Torch-Lighting Ceremony in Jerusalem. In a newly released music video, he reveals his face to the public for the first time, marking a symbolic transition from covert operations to a civilian artistic career.

Before turning to music, Hassan served in the IDF’s Mista'arvim unit – an elite undercover force whose members are fluent Arabic speakers trained to blend into Arab environments. The unit has inspired global interest, notably through the internationally acclaimed Israeli television series “Fauda,” which dramatizes the work of undercover operatives confronting militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

The intersection of military service and music has also been reflected in the career of “Fauda” actor and singer Idan Amedi, who was seriously injured while serving as a reservist combat soldier during fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Amedi later recovered after an extended hospitalization in Israel. In December 2024, he released the single “Superman,” his first since his wartime injury. The song, shaped by his combat experience, includes the lyric: "I’m no longer afraid to die."

Amedi dedicated the song to the medical staff who treated him, as well as to four fellow soldiers who were killed in combat.

“After the darkness I’ve experienced, a thousand abysses, I want to thank everyone who took part in the long process I’ve gone through this past year – in the hospital, in rehab, in the studio, and at home. Even though there are no supermen in real life, you are the closest that I’ve ever met. I dedicate this song to the memories of my friends Alexei, Akiva, Gavriel, and Eliran [fellow soldiers killed in Gaza]. You’re in my thoughts every day,” the actor and singer wrote in a social media post.

In February 2025, Amedi returned to the stage for the first time since his injury. Addressing fans, he emphasized the importance of living in the moment despite ongoing security challenges in Israel.

“Between depths, between extremes, between cliffs – because that’s exactly what this land is. Exposed and beautiful, painful and pure, divided yet whole. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned this past year, it’s to cherish the moment, the now – because nothing else exists. So, thank God I’m here,” Amedi stated.