Turkish authorities have detained a Mossad agent, sparking questions about the increased presence of Israeli intelligence in the country. The arrest was the result of a joint operation conducted by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT), the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Istanbul Police’s Anti-Terrorism Department.
The individual, identified as Serkan Cicek, was found to be working with Faisal Rashid, who is connected to Israel’s online operations center. Rashid allegedly tasked Cicek with monitoring a Palestinian activist who opposes Israeli policies in the Middle East.
Investigations showed that Cicek, whose actual name is Muhammed Fatih Keles, changed his name to avoid business debts. He later abandoned his business and established the Pandora Detective Agency in 2020, working as a private investigator.
During this time, he worked with Musa Kus and lawyer Tugrulhan Dip. Kus, currently in jail for allegedly spying for Israel, helped Cicek and his associates get private data from public records. Cicek worked with both Kus and Dip in his spying activities.
After Cicek became a spy, Mossad agents showed interest. On July 31, Faisal Rashid contacted Cicek on WhatsApp, pretending to be an employee of a foreign law firm.
Rashid assigned Cicek to conduct surveillance on a Palestinian activist living in Basaksehir for four days. In exchange, Rashid paid him $4,000 in cryptocurrency on August 1. Cicek accepted the proposal.
The incident has caused significant concern in Turkey. Turkey has a history of supporting Hamas and Palestine. If Mossad increases its operations in Turkey, there is a risk of unrest.
Some view this as a significant revelation for President Erdogan. Turkey and Israel have strong trade ties. Israeli oil and gas also passes through Turkey. Mossad’s activities in Turkey could be a cause for concern for this relationship.