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Ra’anana, Israel — Israeli security forces have arrested five individuals, including a young couple from Ra’anana, on suspicion of operating as Iranian spies within the country during the ongoing conflict with Hamas, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The couple, both in their 30s, were taken into custody following an extensive undercover investigation led by the Israel Police’s Central District and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).
According to a joint statement issued Tuesday, police officers raided the couple’s apartment in Ra’anana on Monday, where they seized multiple mobile phones, computers, and other technological equipment.
Investigators reportedly uncovered correspondence believed to be between the suspects and their Iranian handler. The couple appeared in court on Tuesday for a hearing regarding the extension of their detention as authorities continue examining the seized evidence.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Israel and regional adversaries, with Iran accused of intensifying its efforts to undermine Israeli security through cyber operations and human intelligence.
In a separate development, three Israeli men were arrested on Monday in different espionage cases linked to Iranian intelligence operations. Two of the men had been in direct contact with Iranian agents over recent months, providing detailed information and video footage of shopping malls in Israel.
Security officials say the suspects shared operational details about mall layouts, including the number of stores and security guards present.
In some instances, the men transmitted their live GPS locations to Iranian operatives while at these strategic locations. Authorities suspect this was done to facilitate real-time planning or surveillance verification.
Alarmingly, it is believed that the men were also instructed to participate in a targeted assassination. While the identity of the potential target remains unknown, investigators revealed that the suspects were asked to travel abroad for training in carrying out the mission.
The plan reportedly involved withholding the identity of the target until after the suspects had completed the training. Shin Bet officials emphasized the gravity of the allegations, describing them as part of a broader Iranian effort to establish operational assets within Israel.
They noted that such recruitment typically takes place via online platforms and encrypted messaging apps, often disguised under civilian or ideological cover.
“The Iranian regime continues to try to exploit Israeli citizens for espionage and sabotage purposes,” the security agency said. “We remain vigilant and committed to identifying and dismantling any such threats.”
The arrests underscore growing concerns within Israel’s security establishment over the Islamic Republic’s intelligence activities and covert influence operations on Israeli soil. Investigations into all five suspects are ongoing, and charges are expected to be filed in the coming days.
As tensions persist across the region, Israeli security agencies are urging the public to report any suspicious activity or contact with foreign agents, particularly online—a key recruitment vector identified in several recent espionage cases.