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 activities on behalf of Iran. Abu Al-Hija, 32, was convicted of contacting a foreign agent after carrying out several missions under Iranian direction, including photographing the home of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In addition to the prison sentence, he received 24 months of probation and a fine of NIS 10,000. The court deemed his actions a severe security offense that significantly harmed national security, governmental mechanisms, and public peace.

Between October 2025 and January 2026, Abu Al-Hija communicated via Telegram with an individual identifying as "Martin." He completed six tasks for "Martin," receiving thousands of dollars transferred through the Binance app. The indictment stated that he continued these activities despite suspecting he was dealing with a foreign agent, and he avoided investigating this suspicion.

The missions escalated over time. Abu Al-Hija acquired and hid cell phones and chargers in Haifa and Kiryat Haim, installed communication applications on them, and documented their hiding places. He also left an envelope containing a crypto account access code and NIS 50 under a vase in Zichron Yaakov and photographed a Tel Aviv cafe from both inside and outside.

His final mission involved former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. "Martin" provided Abu Al-Hija with four locations in the village of Amikam, near Gallant's residence, instructing 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 shortly after in Amikam. Gallant was not at home at the time. The case emerged amid previous threats against Gallant, which had previously led to his urgent evacuation from his home under Shin Bet guidance. The court determined that the actions were intended to gather intelligence on Israel and had a high potential for damage, even if no actual harm was proven.