Turkish authorities have detained an agent affiliated with Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. The operation, a joint effort by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT), the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Istanbul Police’s Anti-Terrorism Department, led to the arrest in Istanbul.
The individual, identified as Serkan Cicek, was found to be in contact with Faisal Rashid, a member of an Israeli online operations center. Rashid allegedly tasked Cicek with surveilling a Palestinian activist critical of Israel’s policies in the Middle East.
Investigations revealed that Cicek, whose original name is Muhammed Fatih Keles, changed his name due to financial difficulties stemming from business debts. He subsequently abandoned his business ventures and established the Pandora Detective Agency in 2020, transitioning into private investigation work.
During this period, Cicek collaborated with Musa Kus and lawyer Tugrulhan Dip. Kus, currently incarcerated on charges of spying for Israel, assisted Cicek and his associates in obtaining private data from public records. Cicek utilized the assistance of both Kus and Dip in his espionage endeavors.
After Cicek’s recruitment, Mossad agents initiated contact. On July 31, Faisal Rashid, using the guise of a foreign law firm employee, reached out to Cicek via WhatsApp.
Rashid assigned Cicek the task of surveilling a Palestinian activist residing in Basaksehir for four days. In return, Rashid provided a payment of $4,000 in cryptocurrency on August 1. Cicek accepted the offer.
The incident has sparked serious concerns within Turkey, which has a history of supporting Hamas and Palestinian causes. The intensification of Mossad’s operations could potentially destabilize the country.
Some analysts view this as a significant development, potentially prompting a reevaluation by President Erdogan. Given the robust trade ties between Turkey and Israel, including the transit of Israeli oil and gas through Turkish territory, Mossad’s activities pose a potential threat to these crucial relationships.