- Advertisement -
HomeWORLDIsraeli Mossad operation targeting Palestinians in Ankara-Turkiye makes sensational arrest

Israeli Mossad operation targeting Palestinians in Ankara-Turkiye makes sensational arrest

In a nationwide crackdown, Turkish security authorities on last Wednesday reportedly arrested several people linked to an Istanbul consulting company allegedly involved in targeting Palestinian ex-pats and organizations operating in Turkiye. As part of an operation launched earlier this week, 44 suspects had been identified as having ties to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This is one of the largest concerted clean-ups by the Turkish Government in recent times.

The Istanbul authorities have arrested several suspects allegedly linked with the Israeli secret agency Mossad who was involved in targeting Palestinian ex-pats living in Turkey. Seven have been jailed, others remain at large, and some are still being investigated by Turkey’s counter-espionage unit.

The suspected operation against Palestinian citizens, non-governmental organizations, and institutions based on Turkish soil is contemplated to have involved intimidation and damaging reputational remarks made via social media channels, as well as information about them being leaked to Mossad. In return, the espionage network is alleged to have received a handsome amount in return for their covert actions.

Camouflaged Private Detective Associations are suspected Mossad operatives

The clandestine operations were initiated by the founder President of the Private Detectives Association in Turkey, Ismail Yetimoglu who has also been arrested. He became a private detective in 2003 after 23 years of working as a civil servant and opened his company in 2007.

In recent years, counter-espionage investigations have exposed several networks operating in Turkish territories and working for Russia and Iran to kidnap and assassinate targets in Turkey.

In June, members of an Iranian cell planning an attack on Israelis were caught in Turkey as part of a joint operation by police and the National Intelligence Organization(MIT). Regular monitoring by Turkish investigation agencies revealed that Israelis travelled to Turkey under the guise of businesspeople, tourists, and students. However, they had been kept under Turkish surveillance.

Iranian-led plot to kill Israeli-Turkish businessman exposed

In February, MIT also uncovered another Iranian-led plot to kill an Israeli-Turkish businessperson using a network of ‘hitmen’. And in October last year, Turkey arrested 15 people suspected of providing Mossad with relevant information about foreign students from Turkish universities eligible for recruitment in the defence industry. The network of operatives working for Mossad consisted of five separate cells with three people in each cell.

Turkish authorities have been scrutinizing Istanbul-based consulting firms for some time over claims some were being paid to spy on Palestinians and their non-governmental organizations. Jason Brodsky the Policy Director at ‘United Against Nuclear Iran’ stated that the latest operations lead to the conclusion that Turkey has a complicated set of responsibilities and interests that it has to balance with respect to Israel, Iran, and the Palestinians.

“It cracks down on Iranian terror plots targeting Israelis to appease Jerusalem to improve ties; while at the same time trying to portray itself as a champion of the Palestinian people.”

Also Read: Missiles pour down on Ukraine in one of Russia’s greatest attacks till date

Israel has so far not commented on the arrests or allegations.

Since July, Tel Aviv and Istanbul have been striving hard to improve bilateral relations – both countries exchanged ambassadors recently. The latest arrests came at a time when Israel and Turkey were trying their best to mend relations. This will only impair the already strong intelligence-sharing arrangements the two countries have initiated, and if there were any semblance of veracity, Israel may end up at the receiving end. 

The authenticity of the claims by the Turkish authorities lacks transparency within Turkish courts, and as such, we may never be able to unfold the exact story. 

In all, around 571 Palestinian students are studying in Turkey on Turkish government scholarships. Several NGOs and business institutions are underway by Palestinian expats such as the Palestinian Friendship Association and the Palestinian International Charitable Organization in Istanbul.

The number of Palestinians living in Turkey is estimated to be between 25,000 and 30000.

Also Read: Twitter: Elon Musk’s team hunts for new investors as advertisers flee

Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOKINSTAGRAM, and TWITTER

Enter Your Email To get daily Newsletter in your inbox

- Advertisement -

Latest Post

Latest News

- Advertisement -