Jan. 3 (UPI) — Turkish authorities have arrested 33 people accused of carrying out “international espionage activities” for Israel, Ankara said.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrests in a statement Tuesday, saying the suspects were detained in a large-scale operation conducted in eight provinces centered around Istanbul.
“We will never allow espionage activities against the national unity and solidarity of our country,” he said.
Yerlikaya said those arrested were members of Mossad, and had planned to kidnap and assault foreign nationals in the country they were also spying on.
Searches conducted at 57 addresses as part of the operation resulted in the confiscation of various currencies, valued at nearly $200,000.
An unlicensed gun and a large number of cartridges and digital material were also seized, he said.
“Our fight against organized crime organizations and spies that disturb the peace of our families will continue with determination,” he added.
Uluslararası Casusluk Faaliyetlerinin Tespit ve Deşifresine yönelik İstanbul merkezli 8️⃣ İlde eş zamanlı olarak düzenlenen “KÖSTEBEK” Operasyonunda 3️⃣3️⃣ şüpheli şahıs yakalandı❗️
Ülkemizin milli birlik ve beraberliğine karşı yürütülen casusluk faaliyetlerine asla izin… pic.twitter.com/cQDc9kq9E2— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) January 2, 2024
Authorities are searching for at least 13 other suspects, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkey has been outspoken about its criticism of Israel and its war against Hamas in Gaza that has resulted in some 22,000 dead Palestinians since it began on Oct. 7.
Last month, Turkey’s foreign ministry disregarded Israel’s defense of its operation, stating “brute force against an entire civilian population by an occupying power cannot be legitimized as self-defense.”
