Israel Charges Citizen with Spying on Gallant for Iran

Middle East News Network :
Israeli authorities on Monday filed an indictment against an Israeli citizen on charges of spying for Iran and gathering intelligence information about former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
A joint statement issued by the Israeli Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said that the suspect, Fares Abu al-Hija, 32, is from the village of Kawkab Abu al-Hija in the Galilee.
According to the statement, Abu al-Hija was arrested in late January while photographing streets near Gallant’s residence in the town of Amikam.
Between October and January, the suspect allegedly carried out a series of intelligence-related tasks despite suspecting that his handler was a foreign agent. These tasks reportedly included hiding mobile phones and chargers at various locations in Haifa, activating them and installing communication applications, delivering an envelope containing cryptocurrency account details to Zikhron Ya’akov, and photographing a café in Tel Aviv.
According to the indictment filed with the Haifa District Court, the suspect established contact with an Iranian agent identified as “Martin” via the Telegram app last August while searching for employment.
The prosecution alleges that the suspect received payments in cryptocurrency in exchange for his services, including $1,000 for filming and photographing the café.
The Attorney General requested that the suspect remain in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings, charging him with contact with a foreign agent.
The statement warned of escalating Iranian efforts to recruit Israeli citizens inside the country, emphasizing that authorities “view with utmost seriousness any involvement in such activities.”
Over the past two years, dozens of Israeli citizens have been charged with spying for Tehran, most of whom were reportedly recruited through social media platforms, particularly Telegram.
It is worth noting that Gallant served as Israel’s Minister of Defense between 2022 and 2024 before being dismissed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid political disagreements. He had previously served as head of the Southern Command in the Israeli army.
Source: The Times of Israel