Israeli citizen charged with spying on former Defense Minister Gallant for Iran, carrying out other acts of espionage

An Israeli Arab citizen was charged with spying on former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant under the direction of Iranian agents, the Israel Police announced on Monday. 

According to a police statement, Fares Abu al-Hija, 32, a resident of Kaukab Abu al-Hija, was allegedly apprehended while conducting an intelligence-gathering mission targeting former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reportedly under the direction of Iranian officials and in exchange for payment. Abu al-Hija in the Galilee is located about an hour north of Gallant’s residence. 

He was arrested in recent weeks by the Menashe regional central police unit in cooperation with the Shin Bet. Following questioning by police and security officials, an indictment was filed Monday with the Haifa District Court.

During his interrogation, al-Hija admitted he had been in contact with a foreign source whom he believed to be an Iranian intelligence agent via the Telegram platform. He also said he received money for carrying out various acts of espionage, including gathering intelligence that could harm Israel's national security. According to Shin Bet domestic intelligence, the foreign contact was later determined to be an Iranian intelligence agent. 

The Israel Police and Shin Bet said in a joint statement, “In recent years, and since Operation ‘Rising Lion’ in particular, we have witnessed increased efforts by Iranian elements to recruit and operate civilians in the territory of the State of Israel. The General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police view any involvement in this type of activity with great severity and will continue to act to bring to justice those involved in harming the security of the state and its citizens.” 

Last year, Shin Bet and the Israel Police launched a public awareness campaign warning Israelis about recruitment efforts by Iranian agents.

According to the indictment filed in the Haifa District Criminal Prosecutor's Office, al-Hija was in contact with a person who called himself “Martin” on Telegram. Between October 2025 and January 2026, he carried out a series of tasks in exchange for payments transferred via the Binance money transfer app. Al-Hija admitted that he performed the actions even though he suspected that “Martin” was a foreign agent. 

Among the tasks carried out, al-Hija reportedly purchased and hid cell phones and chargers at several locations in the Haifa area, after activating the devices and installing secure communication applications on them. He allegedly documented the locations where he placed the phones and sent images to his handler. In addition, al-Hija was reportedly asked to deliver an envelope that contained an access code to a cryptocurrency account to a specific destination in Zichron Yaakov. On another occasion, he was asked to take photos and videos of a specific cafe in Tel Aviv. 

According to the indictment, al-Hija was apprehended in January 2026 after he was allegedly instructed to travel to the community of Amikam and photograph streets near the residence of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. After taking the photographs and sending them to his alleged handler, he was arrested.

He has been charged with contact with a foreign agent. Prosecutors are seeking to keep him in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.