Tel Aviv, Israel – A 19-year-old resident of Nazareth, Mohammad Sa’adi, has been indicted on charges of espionage for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Israeli authorities announced on Thursday.
The indictment, filed in a court following an investigation by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, accuses Sa’adi of contacting a foreign agent and providing critical intelligence during the ongoing war.
According to the joint statement, Sa’adi allegedly contacted Hezbollah several times, expressing his willingness to join and fight for the group. The investigation revealed that he provided sensitive information, including rocket impact sites, aircraft movements, and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troop locations.
Authorities also allege that Sa’adi sent photos and videos to al-Manar, a television station affiliated with Hezbollah, during the conflict.
The case comes amid a series of similar incidents in recent months, with Israelis allegedly recruited by Iran or its proxies to spy on Israel. Many of these individuals were reportedly lured by financial incentives or manipulated into cooperation. Israeli authorities have linked these espionage activities to Iran’s broader strategy of destabilising Israel through proxy forces like Hezbollah and Hamas.
“This investigation exposed, yet again, how Iran and its allies continue to recruit individuals within Israel to advance their terror operations,” the Shin Bet and police stated.
The indictment marks the first case of an Israeli citizen charged with directly spying for Hezbollah during the current conflict. Hezbollah has been firing rockets and drones into Israel from Lebanon since October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas launched a large-scale assault from Gaza, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
After over a year of fighting, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire last month, which has largely held despite occasional violations and retaliatory airstrikes.
The case against Sa’adi is expected to further highlight the threats posed by foreign recruitment efforts targeting Israeli citizens amidst ongoing regional tensions.
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