Crime18 September, 20262 min read
Israeli Police Arrest Hamdan Hamdan Over Contact With Lebanese Foreign Agent
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Hamdan Hamdan, 32, from Majd al-Krum, arrested on suspicion of contact with a Lebanese agent. Arrest followed a joint operation by Lahav 433 and Shin Bet.
7 outlets told this the same way.
The Jerusalem Post was read line by line by the Watchdog: 5.4. See the score →
Arrest in Majd al-Krum
Israeli police and Shin Bet announced the arrest of Hamdan Hamdan, a 32-year-old resident of Majd al-Krum, on suspicion of security offenses and contact with a foreign agent from Lebanon. The Jerusalem Post said Hamdan was arrested on suspicion of making contact with a foreign agent several months ago to conduct missions in Israel on their behalf, and it described him as aware the agent was Lebanese.
Israel National News and The Times of Israel both tied the case to a joint operation by the Israel Police's Lahav 433 national unit for investigation of international crimes and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet). The Times of Israel said the Lebanese agent attempted to financially compensate Hamdan by purchasing products in Israel and having them sent to him, and it added that an indictment is expected to be filed on Sunday at the Haifa District Court.
Investigation details and warning
Israel National News said the investigation found Hamdan had been in contact with the foreign agent for several months and had been asked by her to carry out security-related missions, with Hamdan aware he was communicating with a foreign agent from Lebanon. Breakingthenews.net likewise said the suspect was apprehended following an investigation by the Lahav 433 major crimes unit and that he was suspected of being in contact with Lebanese agents and carrying out security-related tasks on their instructions.
In a joint statement, Israel Police and Shin Bet warned Israeli citizens and residents against establishing contact with foreign operatives from enemy states or with unidentified individuals, and especially against carrying out missions on their behalf in exchange for payment or for any other reason. ynetglobal quoted the agencies renewing that warning, saying, "We again warn the citizens and residents of the State of Israel against maintaining contact with foreign elements from enemy states and/or unidentified parties, and all the more so against carrying out tasks for them in exchange for payment or for any other reason."
Broader security context
The Jerusalem Post reported that earlier on Friday Israel Police announced the arrest of Sultan Abu al-Haija, a 31-year-old resident of Tamra, on suspicion of making contact with both Hamas and Iran forces to aid them. It said Abu al-Haija had made contact with the military wing of Hamas to covertly offer his assistance and had also reached out to Iranian forces, while noting he was arrested before being able to conduct any operations for them.
The Jerusalem Post also said that in response to Hamdan's arrest, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told reporters that people in the Galilee were "in the atmosphere of October 6," and it quoted him accusing residents of Majd al-Krum of chanting "long live Palestine." The Times of Israel framed the case as part of a broader effort, stating that the statement added the Lebanese agent attempted to financially compensate Hamdan for his work, while the joint statement described the suspect as carrying out security-related tasks with full knowledge of who he was dealing with.