Israeli Ambulance Driver Charged with Espionage for Iran, Documented Hospitals and Officials

Amir Titi, a 34-year-old resident of Bana in northern Israel, was indicted on Thursday at the Haifa District Court for conducting intelligence activities on behalf of Iranian operatives. Titi, who worked as an ambulance driver and medic, allegedly exploited his access to Israeli hospitals to gather and transmit sensitive information and images to his Iranian handlers. Among the intelligence he collected was footage of President Isaac Herzog during a visit to the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya, as well as documentation of the Amikam settlement, home to former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Titi was arrested late last month by Border Police tactical unit officers following a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Northern District Police. Investigations revealed that he provided detailed reports on hospital preparedness during routine and emergency situations, including photos from Rambam Hospital in Haifa and the Galilee Medical Center. He also documented the number of patients and casualties, patient transfers to underground facilities, and real-time updates on the presence of top officials such as Herzog and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The indictment, filed by attorney Yehuda Dayan from the Haifa District Prosecutor's Office, accuses Titi of aiding the enemy during wartime, intentionally harming state security, and providing intelligence to benefit the enemy. Starting in October 2025, Titi carried out various missions under the direction of an Iranian agent codenamed "TOM," including photographing missile strike sites to assess Iron Dome vulnerabilities. He also gathered intelligence on security arrangements at protests and public sites in Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Titi received tens of thousands of shekels for his espionage activities, paid through family accounts and digital wallets. In May, his handler offered him 50,000 shekels to locate and assault a person, a task Titi agreed to but did not execute. The Shin Bet and police condemned the espionage as a serious breach of national security and warned the public against enemy recruitment attempts.

Titi's defense attorney, Hussein Mana, described him as a naive individual who believed he was acting on behalf of the Israeli state and had no criminal background. Mana called the indictment unnecessary and emphasized Titi's shock at his arrest, portraying him as a patriotic citizen who sought to help the country.