Saturday Jul 12, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News Middle East

Report: Turkey arrests 15 agents suspected of spying for Israel

Turkish media outlets report three cells, each comprising five members, were detained on suspicion of providing classified information to the Mossad. Suspects were allegedly spying on senior Hamas officials based in Turkey, as well as on several foreign exchange students.

by  Neta Bar and Dean Shmuel Elmas
Published on  10-21-2021 12:33
Last modified: 10-21-2021 17:48
Report: Turkey arrests 15 agents suspected of spying for IsraelAFP / Adem Altan

Riot police stand in formation outside the Israeli Embassy in Ankara, Nov. 21, 2012 | File photo: AFP / Adem Altan

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Turkish media outlets on Thursday reported 15 individuals suspected of spying for Israel were arrested as part of a massive operation by local security forces and Turkish police. According to local reports, 200 members of the Turkish security forces took part in the series of raids in which five different alleged espionage cells, each numbering three people, were apprehended.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

According to the Daily Sabah, the operation was carried out on Oct. 7, following a year in which intelligence information was collected on the agents' activities.

While reports in Turkish media did not reveal which country the alleged spies came from, they did note their Middle Eastern appearance. According to the reports, the agents transferred classified information and documents to the Mossad – Israel's national intelligence agency.

According to the Anadolu news agency, "the network relied on Palestinian and Syrian nationals living in Turkey, who received payments through wire transfers and couriers."

The suspects were allegedly spying on senior Hamas officials based in Turkey, as well as on several foreign exchange students.

Anadolu noted that the suspects were arreigned and then transferred to the Maltepe maximum-security prison in Istanbul.​​​​​​​

Three weeks ago, the Palestinian Authority expressed concern over the disappearance of seven Palestinians in the Turkish cities of Istanbul and Konya, as well as in the Turkish-Greek border area. Three of the Palestinians were residents of the Gaza Strip and four others were from the West Bank.

Last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government bolstered its already close relationship with the Hamas terrorist group by granting Turkish citizenship to senior Hamas members, Britain's The Telegraph reported. The move would allow them to travel freely and enable them to plot terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across the globe.

According to the report, seven of 12 Hamas operatives who use Turkey as their base of operations have received Turkish citizenship, as well as passports, while another five are in the process of receiving them. In some cases, the Hamas terrorists are living under Turkish aliases.

"These are not foot soldiers but the most senior Hamas operatives outside of Gaza. [They] are actively raising funds and directing operatives to carry out attacks in the present day," a senior source in the region told The Telegraph.

"The Turkish Government gave in to pressure by Hamas to grant citizenship to its operatives, thereby allowing them to travel more freely, endangering other countries that have listed Hamas as a terror group," the source added.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: espionageHamasMossadTurkey

Related Posts

Iranian group offers millions for assassinating TrumpAP

Iranian group offers millions for assassinating Trump

by Or Shaked

An Iranian movement linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a call to Muslims worldwide to carry out...

This was the moment Israel decided to strike Iran without US supportEPA, AP, AFP

This was the moment Israel decided to strike Iran without US support

by ILH Staff

After detecting nuclear activity following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Senior Israeli official tells The New York Times...

This is an historic opportunity to eliminate the Iranian threatAP

French Intelligence: Most of Iran's enriched uranium remains intact

by Dudi Kogan

According to the French intelligence chief, every stage of Iran’s nuclear program was significantly damaged - enrichment, conversion for production,...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il