Turkish authorities have detained 33 individuals on suspicion of carrying out "international espionage" activities on behalf of Israel's foreign intelligence service, Mossad.
The arrests took place during a security operation across eight provinces as part of investigations initiated by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office's Bureau of Terrorism and Organized Crime against 46 suspects.
Investigations have revealed that Mossad aimed to engage in activities such as surveillance, tracking, assault, and kidnapping against foreign nationals residing in Turkey.
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, on the "X" platform, stated that Israeli intelligence was preparing an "attack" or "kidnapping" operations on a number of foreigners who were under surveillance.
Turkish security forces are continuing the search for another 13 individuals suspected of involvement.
In November of the previous year, Turkish authorities started to prosecute 57 defendants in Istanbul on charges of spying for Israeli intelligence.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in early December that Israel would pay a heavy price if it dared to assassinate members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Turkey, amid Israel's ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip.
