Man Jailed 4.5 Years for Spying for Iran, Photographing Defense Minister's Home

The Haifa District Court sentenced Fares Abu Al-Hija to 55 months in prison for espionage on behalf of Iran. Abu Al-Hija, 32, was convicted of contacting a foreign agent after carrying out several tasks under Iranian direction, including photographing the home of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Between October 2025 and January 2026, Abu Al-Hija communicated via Telegram with an individual he knew as "Martin." He performed six missions for "Martin," receiving thousands of dollars transferred through the Binance app. The indictment states that Abu Al-Hija continued these activities even when he suspected he was working for a foreign agent, but he avoided investigating this suspicion.

His tasks escalated over time. He acquired and hid cell phones and chargers in Haifa and Kiryat Haim, installed communication applications, and documented their hiding places. He also left an envelope containing a crypto account access code and 50 shekels under a vase in Zichron Yaakov, and photographed a Tel Aviv cafe from both inside and outside. Payments for these missions ranged from $200 to $1,000.

The final mission involved former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. "Martin" provided Abu Al-Hija with four locations near Gallant's home in the village of Amikam and instructed him to photograph the streets and the surrounding area. On January 21, Abu Al-Hija went to the location, took photos and videos, and sent them to his handler. He was arrested in Amikam shortly after transmitting the material. Gallant was not at home at the time.

The court determined that Abu Al-Hija's actions were aimed at gathering intelligence on Israel and posed a high potential for damage, even if no actual harm was proven. He was charged under a plea agreement that did not include a sentencing component for contact with a foreign agent. In addition to the prison sentence, he received 24 months of suspended sentences and a fine of 10,000 shekels.