Israeli Court Sentences Man to 55 Months for Spying Near Gallant's Home
A Haifa District Court has sentenced 32-year-old Fares Abu al-Hija to 55 months in prison for espionage on behalf of Iran. The court found him guilty of contacting a foreign agent. Al-Hija carried out various tasks for an Iranian intelligence officer, receiving payment in cryptocurrency via the Binance app.
During his several months of activity, al-Hija suspected his handler was working for a foreign state but deliberately avoided direct proof while continuing to follow instructions. His assignments included purchasing and concealing mobile phones and chargers in Haifa and Kiryat Haim, activating communication apps, and reporting the locations of hidden items via camera.
He was also tasked with delivering an envelope containing cryptocurrency access codes in Zichron Yaakov and photographing a cafe in Tel Aviv. In January 2026, al-Hija was instructed to photograph streets near the home of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the Amikim settlement. After completing this task and sending the materials to his handler, he was apprehended by law enforcement at the scene.
The court stated that the sentence reflects the severity of crimes involving attempts to gather sensitive information and cooperation with the intelligence services of a hostile nation.
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