ANKARA — Turkish authorities have detained two businessmen on charges of espionage for Israel’s intelligence service, alleging they were part of a covert network that monitored pro-Palestinian activists and gathered sensitive information inside Turkey, officials said. The arrests were carried out by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) in an operation codenamed MONITUM, according to security sources.
The suspects, identified as mining engineer Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoğlu, were taken into custody in Istanbul in January 2026 after months of surveillance. The case was first reported by Bloomberg, citing Turkish security officials.
Alleged recruitment and European contacts
Investigators allege Budak Derya, who ran a marble business in the southern province of Mersin, was recruited by Mossad in 2012. Officials say he met alleged handlers in several European countries, using encrypted communications and code names such as “Luis.” Kerimoğlu, a Turkish citizen of Palestinian origin, was reportedly brought into the network through these contacts.
Authorities allege the operation used business travel and commercial ties as cover to maintain contact with foreign intelligence operatives and move across borders without detection.
Monitoring activists and sensitive locations
Turkish officials claim the two men were tasked with collecting information on individuals and groups involved in pro-Palestinian activities, as well as photographing locations linked to Gaza-related events in Turkey. This alleged surveillance of civil society figures has attracted public interest amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, as it touches on politically sensitive domestic issues.
Investigators say much of the alleged intelligence was transmitted abroad through covert channels, though they have not disclosed operational specifics, citing security concerns.
Drone parts and earlier activities under scrutiny
Prosecutors are also examining older allegations linked to 2016, when Budak Derya reportedly attempted to sell drone components to an individual with alleged ties to Hamas who was later killed in Tunisia. Authorities are investigating whether that effort was part of broader intelligence-gathering or technology-tracking activities.
Part of wider counter-espionage efforts
The recent arrests come amid a series of high-profile counter-intelligence operations in Turkey targeting alleged foreign spy networks. In early 2024, Turkish authorities detained 34 people suspected of having ties to Mossad in a broad operation that spanned multiple provinces, with officials describing it as part of a crackdown on foreign intelligence activity inside the country.
State media and security officials have reported several other arrests over the past year of individuals accused of providing information to foreign intelligence services, including previous operations involving suspected Mossad links and other espionage probes.
Analysts say the latest case fits a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident, particularly as regional tensions rise and intelligence competition intensifies.
Turkey–Israel tensions in the background
Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply amid the war in Gaza, with Ankara frequently condemning Israeli military actions and scaling back diplomatic engagement. Espionage allegations have repeatedly surfaced during periods of heightened political friction between the two countries, adding to broader geopolitical strain in the region.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, with authorities tracing possible overseas connections and financial flows linked to the suspects. No formal court verdict has been issued, and the accused are entitled to due process under Turkish law.
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