Israeli State Files First Criminal Petition to Strip Citizenship from Former Cellcom Cyber Spies

The Israeli State Prosecutor's Office has filed a groundbreaking criminal petition to the Central District Court seeking to revoke the citizenship of Rani Of and Shadi Aidi, two former Cellcom employees convicted of espionage for Hamas. This unprecedented legal move, initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his capacity as Interior Minister and approved by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, targets the duo for breaching their loyalty to Israel by aiding an enemy during wartime.

Of and Aidi exploited their privileged access to Cellcom's communication infrastructure to systematically assist Hamas operatives based in Turkey. They provided sensitive information about Cellcom's cybersecurity systems and communication networks, intending to implant technological tools to disable the company's critical services during military conflict. Cellcom's network also supports Israeli defense forces, heightening the severity of their actions.

Both men were convicted of conspiring to assist the enemy and transmitting classified information with intent to harm national security. Additionally, Of was found guilty of treason and contact with a foreign agent. In 2024, Of received an 11-year prison sentence, while Aidi was sentenced to 5.5 years, alongside suspended sentences and fines.

The petition, submitted by prosecutors Ori Kedar, Liran Paar, and Shiri Rom from the Cyber Division, emphasizes the extreme breach of citizen duty and the grave potential damage their sabotage could have caused during wartime. This new criminal procedure aims to symbolically and practically sever the ties of individuals who have betrayed the state and engaged in technological terrorism on behalf of Israel's worst enemies.