Israeli authorities have arrested a 22-year-old university student on suspicion of spying for Iran, according to a joint statement issued Thursday by the Shin Bet domestic security service and the Israeli police.
The student, who studies information systems at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, is from the Arab village of Deir al-Asad in northern Israel. He was arrested in June and will face formal charges for alleged security offenses and carrying out tasks on behalf of Iranian agents.
The timing of the arrest remains unclear—whether it occurred before or during the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.
Authorities revealed that the student had been in contact with an Iranian agent for several months. In exchange for payment, he allegedly carried out “security-related acts” under the agent’s instructions. These included an attempt to injure a person, scattering nails on a main road in Beersheba, and inciting divisive social discourse.
The student reportedly claimed his actions were motivated by solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
This case adds to a growing list of arrests in recent years involving suspected espionage for Iran within Israel. The Shin Bet and police have not disclosed further details about ongoing investigations but emphasized their vigilance in countering foreign espionage operations.
