Turkish state media reported on Friday that two Turkish nationals were arrested in Istanbul on suspicion of spying for Israel’s foreign intelligence service, the Mossad, a claim that could not be independently verified.
Skepticism grows over Turkey’s latest claims of Mossad spy arrests © Mena Today
Turkish state media reported on Friday that two Turkish nationals were arrested in Istanbul on suspicion of spying for Israel’s foreign intelligence service, the Mossad, a claim that could not be independently verified.
According to the state-run Anadolu news agency and broadcaster TRT, the suspects - a Turkish businessman and a second Turkish national of Palestinian origin - allegedly worked for the Mossad for more than a decade. They are accused of gathering intelligence on Palestinians considered hostile to Israel and are currently being held in police custody.
Turkish media further claimed that the two men had attempted to approach a senior Hamas figure in Tunisia under the pretext of selling drone spare parts supplied by Israeli intelligence.
The reports referenced the 2016 killing of Tunisian engineer Mohamed Zouari, a drone specialist assassinated in Sfax, an attack for which Hamas blamed Israel at the time.
TRT also alleged that one of the suspects had recently been involved in preparations for a Mossad “logistical operation” spanning several countries. No evidence supporting these claims has been made public, and Israeli authorities have not commented.
Independent confirmation of the accusations has so far proven impossible. Ankara frequently announces the arrest of alleged Israeli spies, but such cases rarely result in transparent judicial proceedings or the release of corroborating evidence, prompting skepticism among analysts.
The accusations come amid sharply deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel. The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly supported Hamas and adopted an increasingly hostile stance toward Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks that killed Israeli civilians.
Critics argue that repeated announcements of espionage arrests serve domestic political and propaganda purposes, reinforcing Ankara’s narrative of foreign threats while bolstering its alignment with Palestinian factions.
At this stage, the allegations remain based solely on claims by Turkish state media, with no independent verification.
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