Israeli Police Foil 25 Iran Espionage Cases Amid Israel-Hamas War

The ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran has intensified espionage activities, with Iranian operatives actively recruiting Israeli citizens for intelligence purposes, leading to 25 cases being thwarted and indictments filed against 40 suspects. These espionage efforts are primarily uncovered through investigations by Israeli agencies like Shin Bet and Lahav 433, with many recruitments originating via social media. Former Mossad officer Oded Ailam highlights that Israel exploits Iran's ethnic diversity and social fractures to infiltrate and recruit spies, as the Iranian regime struggles with internal divisions and surveillance gaps. Many recruited Iranian informants are motivated not by loyalty to Israel but by dissatisfaction or economic reasons related to their own government. Meanwhile, an American in Israel experienced the realities of the conflict firsthand, sheltering during bombings and navigating the dangers of a war zone. This dynamic espionage environment underscores the complex and high-stakes intelligence battle unfolding amidst the broader regional conflict.