Israel Arrests Two Accused of Spying on Defense Minister for Iran

People walk next to a mural with the Iranian national flag in Tehran, Iran, 11 May 2025. (EPA)
People walk next to a mural with the Iranian national flag in Tehran, Iran, 11 May 2025. (EPA)
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Israel Arrests Two Accused of Spying on Defense Minister for Iran

People walk next to a mural with the Iranian national flag in Tehran, Iran, 11 May 2025. (EPA)
People walk next to a mural with the Iranian national flag in Tehran, Iran, 11 May 2025. (EPA)

Israeli authorities said Tuesday that they had arrested two citizens suspected of carrying out "intelligence-gathering missions" at Iran's behest near the defense minister's home.

The arrests are the latest in a spate of cases in which Israel has charged its own citizens with spying for the country's arch-foe since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

Police and the Shin Bet domestic security agency said that "in a joint operation... Roi Mizrachi and his friend, Almog Attias, both 24, were arrested at the end of April for committing security offenses after collecting intelligence in Kfar Ahim", where Defense Minister Israel Katz lives.

The men were acting "on behalf of Iran" and motivated by "financial gain", said the statement from the security agencies.

On Sunday, authorities announced the arrest of an 18-year-old Israeli accused of spying on former prime minister Naftali Bennet, also for Iran.

Other cases uncovered recently included alleged missions ranging from photographing military bases to plotting to kill senior Israeli officials.

Police said most suspects did not have special training and had faced financial difficulties.

Defense Minister Katz said in a statement he would not be "deterred" by attempts to spy on him.

"Iran is... directly advancing terrorist activity and supporting terrorist organizations that act against Israeli leaders and against all citizens of the State of Israel," he said.

"I will not be deterred by any threat and will continue to fulfil my duty to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."

The Shin Bet and police said that Mizrachi and Attias were asked to carry out a number of missions near Katz's home.

Mizrachi had purchased a new cellphone and used "a special app" to communicate with his Iranian handlers, the security agencies said in their statement.

The pair were "fully aware they were acting under Iranian direction", the statement added.

Among the tasks Mizrachi had allegedly carried out, the agencies said he moved "a bag buried in the ground from one location to another" thinking that it "contained an explosive device".

Indictments against the two men are expected to be filed in the coming days, the statement said.



Israeli Hospital Suffers 'Extensive Damage' after Iranian Missile Strike

Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
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Israeli Hospital Suffers 'Extensive Damage' after Iranian Missile Strike

Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israel’s main southern hospital sustained a direct hit Thursday from an Iranian missile, with officials reporting “extensive damage” there.

The Soroka Medical Center is the main hospital in Israel’s south.

A spokesperson for the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba said the hospital suffered “extensive damage” in different areas and people had been wounded in the attack. The hospital has requested people not come for treatment, The Associated Press reported.

The hospital has over 1,000 beds and provides services to the approximately 1 million residents of Israel’s south, according to the hospital’s website.

The strike came as Israel attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, Iranian state television said Thursday.

The report said there was “no radiation danger whatsoever.”

The Israeli military said Thursday’s round of airstrikes targeted Tehran and other areas of Iran, without elaborating. It later said Iran fired a new salvo of missiles at Israel and told the public to take shelter.