Turkish police on Friday detained seven people who are suspected of selling information to Israeli intelligence service Mossad, the state-run TRT Haber reported.
The detentions took place in İstanbul and İzmir after the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention warrants for nine people who were being tracked by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) due to their suspected links to Mossad.
MIT reportedly found that Mossad was using private detectives to follow its targets in Turkey who were passing on critical information in return for money.
Two of the suspects had been detained earlier as part of the same investigation, according to TRT Haber.
In another operation on January 2, 34 suspects were apprehended in a coordinated operation across eight provinces surrounding İstanbul on charges of conducting espionage for Mossad. Fifteen of them were later arrested.
Their alleged activities included planning abductions and gathering intelligence.
These developments follow reports of Israel’s plans to assassinate members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas living abroad.
Israeli officials have publicly stated Israel’s intention to target Hamas leaders globally, including in Turkey, Qatar and Lebanon.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned of severe repercussions if Israel targets Hamas members in Turkey.
Unlike most of its NATO allies, Turkey does not see Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Turkey’s Western allies have time and again criticized what they see as the government of President Erdoğan providing a safe haven for Hamas officials and members.
Israel began pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza after Hamas militants carried out an unprecedented surprise attack in Israel on October 7 that claimed 1,200 lives.
Israeli air and ground attacks in Gaza have resulted in at least 27,000 deaths since October 7 in addition to causing massive destruction in the enclave.
