A report reveals that the Iranian handler of an ambulance driver used the alias of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to approach Israelis, offering assistance with gun license applications as a cover for espionage recruitment.
A report circulating Thursday afternoon adds a significant new dimension to the Iranian espionage case that has unfolded throughout the day. According to the report, the Iranian handler who directed the ambulance driver in his activities used the alias of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to approach Israelis, offering assistance with gun license applications as a cover for recruitment into the spy network. The report did not name the handler or specify how many individuals were approached, suggesting the investigation is still ongoing.
Earlier today at 12:03 Jerusalem, a series of reports revealed the arrest and indictment of Amir Hisham Muhammad Titi, a 34-year-old ambulance driver from Bana in the Galilee. The Shin Bet and police alleged that Titi exploited his hospital access to document President Isaac Herzog's visit to a medical center, the home of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Moshav Amikam, hospital underground facilities and emergency protocols, protest sites, and Hostage Square. He was paid tens of thousands of shekels for his work. The indictment charges him with aiding the enemy in wartime, delivering information with intent to harm state security, and delivering information for the enemy's benefit.
The Zioneer reported earlier that the case highlights the reach of Iranian intelligence operatives seeking to recruit Israeli citizens with access to sensitive locations. The use of a minister's alias to approach potential recruits suggests a deliberate effort to build trust and lower suspicion.
What remains unclear is the full extent of the recruitment network. The identity of the handler using the alias and the number of Israelis who may have been contacted are not yet publicly known. The investigation by the Shin Bet and police continues.
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Source and signal
- Open-source intake