Overview
- The Haifa District Prosecutor filed charges on February 16 against Fares Abu al-Hija, 32, of Kaukab Abu al-Hija, for gathering intelligence for an Iranian agent.
- Investigators say he was detained in late January after photographing streets near Yoav Galant’s home in Moshav Amikam and transmitting the footage to his handler.
- Court documents state he first connected with the handler via Telegram in August while seeking work and received payments in cryptocurrency.
- The indictment details tasks including filming a Tel Aviv cafe, delivering envelopes with cryptocurrency access codes, and hiding and activating mobile phones in Haifa and Kiryat Haim.
- Shin Bet and Israel Police say the handler was an Iranian intelligence operative and report increased recruitment of Israeli civilians since June 2025; prosecutors have requested his continued detention during proceedings.