Seven Jewish Israelis, all residents of Haifa and the north, were arrested last month on charges of spying for Iran over a span of two years. The suspects, who emigrated from Azerbaijan, allegedly carried out approximately 600 missions, including gathering intelligence on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bases, Iron Dome batteries, and other strategic sites, at the behest of Iranian handlers.
“This is one of the most severe cases we’ve ever investigated,” said Chief Superintendent Yaron Binyamin, head of the Lahav 433 serious crimes unit. Authorities are considering charging the suspects with aiding the enemy in wartime, which could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment.
The suspects, including two minors, are accused of passing sensitive information to Iranian agents about IDF bases, energy infrastructure, and even specific individuals. In exchange, they allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars, some of it in cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors plan to file indictments against the group for security offenses, including espionage and potential involvement in assassination plots.