Israeli Officer Accused of Spying for Iran Complains of Food Deprivation in Custody

A Tel Aviv District Court judge ordered the Israeli Prison Service to treat a 28-year-old officer accused of spying for Iran humanely after the suspect complained of being denied food for several hours and access to his tefillin during detention. The judge did not rule on the truth of the allegations but emphasized the importance of humane treatment even in cases involving repugnant accusations.

Investigations by the Ministry of Defense's Military Intelligence Directorate and the Shin Bet revealed that the suspect, from Ramat Gan, communicated with an individual claiming to be Iranian intelligence. The accused was asked to help recruit a soldier to establish contact with these Iranian agents. The soldier, who was approached by the Iranians, disclosed his classified unit affiliation and shared sensitive information about unique IDF capabilities. Negotiations over payment ensued, but the suspect was arrested days later.

The indictment, filed in March, describes the case as one of the most shocking. It includes details of a separate but related "dangerous gamble" case, where a reserve Air Force major allegedly passed classified information about the upcoming "With the Lion" operation to a civilian for betting purposes on the Polymarket platform. The major attended a secret briefing, signed a confidentiality agreement, and shared operational details via WhatsApp, leading to a civilian winning $162,663 from the bet.

Following the arrest, the main suspect was released to house arrest due to stolen equipment. The case continues to unfold amid concerns over national security breaches involving military personnel.