Israeli Student Arrested for Alleged Espionage Activities on Behalf of Iran

Israeli Student Arrested for Alleged Espionage Activities on Behalf of Iran

ESTHER SALIFU, Abuja

Israeli authorities have arrested a 22-year-old student from Deir al-Asad on suspicion of conducting espionage activities for Iranian intelligence, marking the latest incident in a series of alleged Iranian spy operations within Israel.

The suspect, an information systems student at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, was detained in June. According to a joint statement from the Shin Bet security agency and Israeli police, he is accused of committing security offenses and executing tasks under the direction of Iranian agents.

Authorities allege that the student maintained contact with an Iranian operative for several months, during which he received payments to carry out various “security related acts.” These purportedly included attempting to harm an individual, scattering nails on a main road in Beersheba, and inciting divisive social discourse. The suspect reportedly claimed his actions were motivated by solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

This arrest comes amid a significant increase in espionage-related incidents in Israel. The Shin Bet reported a 400% surge in arrests linked to Iranian spy plots in 2024 compared to the previous year, with 13 major espionage cases uncovered and 27 Israelis indicted.

The investigation into the current case is ongoing, and the suspect is expected to face formal charges in the coming days.