Israeli Citizen Arrested for Aiding Hamas Military Wing and Iranian Intelligence

An Israeli citizen, Sultan Abu Elheiga, 31, from Tamra, faces serious charges for allegedly collaborating with Hamas's military wing and Iranian intelligence. The Shin Bet and the Northern District's special investigations unit (YAMAM) uncovered a dangerous network managed by Abu Elheiga, who reportedly initiated contact with the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, to provide them with covert assistance from within Israel.

Further investigation revealed that Abu Elheiga also established direct contact with Iranian intelligence operatives. His activities were thwarted by Israeli security forces before he could carry out any missions for his handlers in Tehran. He was arrested on August 28, 2026, in a joint operation involving the Border Police's National Guard, Shin Bet investigators, and YAMAM officers.

The indictment, filed Friday in the Haifa District Court, accuses Abu Elheiga of proactively aiding an enemy during wartime. The Shin Bet and Israel Police emphasized their zero tolerance for Israeli citizens involved in activities that endanger national security and vowed to prosecute such individuals to the fullest extent of the law.

Security officials view this case as part of ongoing efforts by Iranian intelligence and Hamas to recruit Israeli citizens, particularly through social media, for intelligence gathering, espionage, and sabotage operations within Israel. Israeli security agencies are actively combating these recruitment efforts through close monitoring to detect early contact with hostile elements. The exposure of this network highlights Tehran's determination to infiltrate Israeli Arab society, as well as the security system's vigilance in neutralizing such threats in their initial stages.