Turned to Hamas's military wing, contacted Iranian intelligence – and was arrested

A serious indictment will be filed against Sultan Abu al-Hija, a 31-year-old resident of Tamra, who contacted the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and Iranian intelligence elements. He was arrested on August 28, 2026, in a joint operation by the Shin Bet, Northern District Police, and the National Guard of the Border Police, before he could carry out missions for Tehran.

A serious indictment will be filed this morning (Friday) at the Haifa District Court against Sultan Abu al-Hija, a 31-year-old resident of Tamra, in a case of espionage and contact with terrorist elements. The investigation by the Shin Bet and the Northern District Police reveals that Abu al-Hija proactively contacted the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, several times, aiming to provide them with covert assistance from within Israeli territory. Additionally, he established direct contact with Iranian intelligence elements. He was arrested on August 28, 2026, in a joint operational activity by fighters of the Northern National Guard of the Border Police, Shin Bet investigators, and Northern District Police officers, before he could carry out missions for his handlers in Tehran. The prosecution is filing the indictment through attorney Shir Moshiov. The Shin Bet and police emphasized that they view any involvement in activities endangering state security with utmost severity. The case joins a series of Iranian and Hamas attempts to recruit Israelis through social networks for intelligence gathering and espionage.