According to a report by Times of Israel on Thursday, July 17, 2025, a 33-year-old teacher from the Negev, Tahani Abu Samhan, has been formally charged with spying for Iran by Israeli authorities.
Prosecutors allege she secretly filmed fighter jets taking off from the Nevatim airbase during the recent war and relayed the videos to an Iranian intelligence agent.
The indictment was filed in the Beersheba District Court following her arrest in June.
According to police statements, Abu Samhan maintained contact with the Iranian operative over the course of a year, fully aware of the person’s identity and mission.
Unlike many others recruited by Iran who are paid in cryptocurrency, Abu Samhan received her compensation in cash. To avoid detection, she used a separate phone for communicating with her handler.
The accused is a member of Israel’s Bedouin community and reportedly a mother of five children.
During interrogation, Abu Samhan claimed she did not intend to harm Israel’s security and said her actions were motivated by a desire to collect money for charitable donations, not personal gain.
However, the prosecution has dismissed these claims, stressing the gravity of her offenses amid escalating tensions with Iran.
Prosecutors charged her with maintaining contact with a foreign agent and passing intelligence to the enemy.
They requested that Abu Samhan be held in custody throughout the court proceedings, citing security concerns during a highly sensitive conflict period.
This case forms part of a broader wave of espionage investigations, with multiple Israelis arrested in recent months for allegedly collaborating with Iranian intelligence.
These suspects have been accused of conducting hundreds of intelligence-gathering missions targeting Israeli military installations and civilian infrastructure.
The Shin Bet and Israeli police continue to warn of active Iranian recruitment efforts targeting Israeli citizens through online contacts and financial incentives.
Authorities have vowed to pursue all such cases rigorously to protect national security.
