Israel Police arrested a 32-year-old resident of Majd al-Krum, Hamdan Hamdan, on suspicion of contacting a Lebanese foreign agent and requesting security missions inside Israel; authorities say the handler allegedly tried to compensate him by purchasing Israeli goods. In a separate arrest, 31-year-old Sultan Abu al-Haija from Tamra was detained for allegedly contacting Hamas' military wing and Iranian forces but was stopped before any operations took place. Indictments for the two suspects were expected this week as police framed the cases within a broader counterintelligence effort. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued inflammatory comments about the Galilee following the arrests.
Two Arrests in Israeli Counterintelligence Sweep — One Allegedly Linked To Lebanese Agent, Another To Hamas And Iran
ILLUSTRATIVE: POLICE ARREST suspect thought to have allowed illegal immigrants through border, November 30, 2025. (photo credit: Police Spokesperson )
Israel Police announced the arrest of a 32-year-old man from Majd al-Krum, identified as Hamdan Hamdan, on suspicion of contacting a Lebanese foreign agent and offering to perform security-related missions inside Israel on the agent's behalf.
Police say the investigation indicates Hamdan was aware his handler was Lebanese and had asked to be assigned security tasks within Israel. Authorities further allege the foreign handler attempted to compensate Hamdan by purchasing Israeli goods and arranging their transfer to him.
Israel Police patrol car [File] (credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Separately, officers detained a 31-year-old man from Tamra, named Sultan Abu al-Haija, on suspicion of contacting the military wing of Hamas and Iranian forces and offering covert assistance. Police said Abu al-Haija was arrested before he could carry out any operations for those groups.
Legal Steps and Police Framing
According to Israel Police, an indictment against Abu al-Haija was expected to be filed on Friday, while prosecutors were preparing an indictment against Hamdan to be submitted on Sunday. The force described the two arrests as separate cases but said they form part of a wider counterintelligence effort and that legal proceedings were being prepared against both suspects.
Political Reaction
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to Hamdan's arrest with sharp remarks about the Galilee, claiming people there were "in the atmosphere of October 6." Smotrich accused some residents of Majd al-Krum of chanting "long live Palestine" and said it was time to bring "the revolution in Judea and Samaria" to the Galilee and the Negev. He added: "Within a few days, it turns out that what could ignite the Galilee is not shepherd farms, but radical Islamic forces that are establishing themselves in a place where there aren't enough Jews."
Note: Police emphasized that investigations are ongoing and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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