Annual report: 25 Israelis charged in Iran-linked espionage network

Israel’s General Security Service, known as SHABAK, said that in 2025 it charged 25 Israelis — including Jewish citizens — as well as foreign nationals living in Israel with espionage on behalf of Iran.

In its annual report, cited by Israeli media, the agency said Iranian intelligence activity aimed at recruiting Israelis as spies surged sharply, rising by 400% in 2025 compared with 2024, and by the same margin compared with 2023 and earlier years.

According to SHABAK, the 25 individuals were accused of maintaining ties with Iranian intelligence services. The agency said it thwarted 120 espionage-related incidents during the year. The primary tasks assigned to recruited individuals involved photographing and filming targets and collecting information in exchange for financial compensation.

The report also detailed counterterrorism activity inside Israel. SHABAK said 219 Arab citizens of Israel were arrested on terrorism-related suspicions, with indictments filed against 130 of them. Forty of those arrested had pledged allegiance to ISIS. In 20 cases, the suspects were minors. The agency added that five Israeli citizens were involved in actual terrorist attacks.

In the West Bank and Gaza Strip, SHABAK reported extensive security operations. A total of 129 residents of East Jerusalem were arrested, while 2,530 people were detained in the West Bank. In Gaza, Israeli security forces conducted 1,550 interrogations of individuals described as terrorists.

By Tamilla Hasanova