Israeli intelligence

In a new round of operations targeting individuals selling information to Israeli intelligence, the Turkish authorities have apprehended eight suspects, unveiling their espionage networks extending into Europe.

The bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Israel has declined by 33 percent between Oct. 7 and March 20, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has said. 

"Public institutions and state-owned companies never do business with Israel," Bolat said in an interview with private broadcaster 24 TV.

Espionage suspects nabbed in Türkiye earlier this week have admitted that they sold information to Israeli intelligence agency Mossad about individuals and organizations of Middle Eastern origin residing in the country, leading to the arrest of six of them.

The police have apprehended 33 suspects of the ISIL terrorist organization over allegedly preparing attacks ahead of the country's local elections later this month, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has said.

The suspects were "preparing and searching for action before the upcoming local elections," Yerlikaya wrote on X on March 10. Nationwide elections are due to be held on March 31.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and Istanbul police have detained seven suspects, including a private detective, over allegedly selling information to the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad.

An Israeli delegation left talks in Cairo to pause the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday, Israeli and U.S. media reported.

Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea met CIA Director William Burns in the Egyptian capital for talks on a Qatari-brokered plan to temporarily halt fighting in Gaza.

In a joint operation by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the police, the security forces have apprehended seven suspects for selling information about individuals living in Türkiye to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.

Hamas has given "initial positive confirmation" to a proposal for the cessation of fighting in Gaza and the release of hostages, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators met with Israeli intelligence officials in Paris on Sunday where they proposed a six-week pause in the Gaza war and a hostage-prisoner exchange for Hamas to review.

A court in Istanbul has ordered 15 of 34 people detained on suspicion of spying for Israel be held in prison awaiting trial, Turkey's justice minister said late Friday.

The suspects were arrested Tuesday for allegedly planning to carry out activities that included "reconnaissance" and "pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping" foreign nationals living in Turkey.

"I do not think that Mossad was involved in the case of the serious breach," notes former Mossad director Efraim Halevy in an interview with Kathimerini. Three weeks after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel, the ninth Mossad director and former head of Israel's National Security Council was invited to answer the crucial questions that remain unanswered.