Haifa Court Sentences Iranian Spy 55 Months for Gallant Surveillance
The Haifa District Court sentenced Fares Abu al-Hija to 55 months in prison for Iranian espionage, which included photographing the home of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Haifa District Court sentenced Fares Abu al-Hija to 55 months in prison on Tuesday after he was convicted of contact with a foreign agent. The defendant carried out a series of tasks directed by Iranian handlers, including photographing the home of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a 24-month suspended sentence and a fine of 10,000 shekels. The court ruled that the offense is among the most severe security violations in the legal code, stating that his actions severely compromised state security, governance structures, and public safety.
Espionage Operations and Crypto Payments
Abu al-Hija, a 32-year-scale resident of Kaukab Abu al-Hija, maintained contact via Telegram between October 2025 and January 2026 with an operative who called himself Martin. He executed six missions in exchange for thousands of dollars transferred via the Binance application. According to the indictment, he continued his operations despite suspecting that he was dealing with a foreign agent, actively avoiding clarifying his suspicions.
The assignments steadily escalated in severity. Abu al-Hija purchased and concealed cellular phones and a charger in Haifa and Kiryat Haim, installed communication applications, and documented the hiding spots. He later left an envelope beneath a flowerpot in Zichron Yaakov containing a crypto account access code and 50 shekels, and photographed a Tel Aviv café both inside and out. For these missions, he received payments ranging from 200 to 1,000 dollars.
Surveillance Near Yoav Gallant's Home
The final assignment targeted former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Martin provided four locations in moshav Amikam, near Gallant's residence, instructing Abu al-Hija to photograph the streets and the surrounding area. On January 21, Abu al-Hija arrived at the location, captured photos and videos, and transmitted them to his handler.
The court ruled that the actions were designed to gather intelligence on Israel and carried a high potential for damage, even if actual harm was not proven.
He was arrested in Amikam shortly after transmitting the footage. Gallant was not at home at the time. The case emerged against the backdrop of prior threats against Gallant, which had previously prompted his urgent evacuation from his home under Shin Bet directives. Abu al-Hija was convicted as part of a plea bargain that did not include an agreed sentence.
