In a shocking indictment that underscores the growing threat of cyber-espionage and foreign influence targeting Israel’s youth, a 16-year-old Israeli boy was charged Monday with maintaining prolonged contact with an Iranian intelligence operative, carrying out a series of disturbing assignments across central Israel on Tehran’s behalf.

According to Israeli prosecutors, the covert connection was initiated shortly after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023, when the teen was contacted through the encrypted Telegram messaging platform. What began as a simple online exchange quickly escalated into an illicit relationship involving ideological manipulation, real-world reconnaissance, and subversive acts — all orchestrated by a shadowy figure believed to be operating on behalf of the Iranian regime.

From Keyboard to Street: Incitement Missions for Hire

The Iranian handler, whose identity has not been disclosed but is believed to be affiliated with Iran’s intelligence services, provided the teenager with a string of provocative and potentially dangerous instructions. In return, the teen was paid through cryptocurrency transactions funneled via the TrustWallet app — a common tool used to obscure digital money trails.

⚠️ #Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) reports that Iran paid a 16-year-old Israeli boy to post anti-#Netanyahu propaganda online and to photograph several sensitive locations in Israel.

— Dr. Fundji Benedict (@Fundji3) May 16, 2025

Among the assignments:

• Printing and distributing incendiary political flyers aimed at undermining public trust in Israeli institutions.

• Filming and photographing government buildings, police stations, and courts — often accompanied by handwritten threats or cryptic notes designed to provoke fear and paranoia.

• Live incitement in public spaces, with the teen allegedly tasked with stirring unrest and manipulating bystanders.

One chilling example occurred in February: the teen scribbled a threatening message in Hebrew — “Where do you think the next target will be?” — and posed it alongside key public buildings in Rehovot, including the Magistrate's Court, the Israel Tax Authority office, and the local police headquarters. For this single act, the teen received a payment of NIS 1,600.

Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) reports that Iran paid a 16-year-old Israeli boy to post anti-Netanyahu propaganda online and to photograph several sensitive locations in Israel.

— Israel News Pulse (@israelnewspulse) May 16, 2025

Expanding the Mission: Surveillance, Sabotage, and Recruitment

The indictment paints a portrait of a teenager who was not just a passive pawn, but an increasingly eager participant. Prosecutors allege that he suggested his own ideas to the Iranian agent, including:

• Spraying inflammatory graffiti on public property.

• Mapping out ATM locations and governmental sites.

• Scouting stores that sold civilian drones — potentially for later sabotage or procurement.

• Dropping money in public places to entice or confuse the public.

• Recruiting friends to join the operation, further amplifying the agent’s reach.

Most disturbingly, the teen allegedly offered to ignite a wildfire near Rehovot during a period of active wildfires outside Jerusalem — a proposal that ultimately fizzled due to a disagreement over the payment sum.

A Digital Trojan Horse: Surveillance App Installed

In a grave escalation, the indictment states that the teen installed surveillance-enabling software on his smartphone, granting the Iranian handler potential remote access. He also added the foreign agent to multiple WhatsApp groups, possibly to provide intelligence on local sentiment or enable further recruitment and propaganda dissemination.

Israel Police and Shin Bet have arrested a resident of Yavne on Sunday who is accused of being a spy for the Islamic Republic of Iran.https://t.co/Gy3CY2dOFV

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) May 18, 2025

An Alarming Pattern: Children Being Targeted

This development comes just one month after Israeli Police arrested an 18-year-old Israeli citizen accused of gathering intelligence for Tehran — including spying on former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during a recent hospital stay.  The suspect, Moshe Attias, a resident of Yavne in central Israel, was detained last month following a covert investigation jointly conducted by the Israel Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency). The arrest was formally announced Sunday in a joint statement, revealing the extent of the teenager’s alleged cooperation with Iranian terror operatives.

According to the statement, Attias had “established contact with Iranian terrorist elements” and had “carried out a wide range of missions” on their behalf — fully aware that his actions could "compromise the security of the State of Israel." Officials noted that his motivation was financial, and that he was compensated for his efforts.

One of the most serious allegations involves Attias’s suspected surveillance of the cardiology department at a central Israeli hospital, believed to be Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where former Prime Minister Bennett underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure last month.

The Shin Bet revealed that Attias was specifically tasked by an Iranian handler with documenting a secured floor of the hospital. He allegedly photographed and relayed footage of the area where Bennett was being treated, including a room guarded by Israeli security agents assigned to protect the former prime minister.

Another troubling case: #Israel's Shin Bet has arrested an 18 year old from Yavne, Moshe Atias, who was recruited by #Iran regime intelligence to undertake various tasks including spying on a hospital where former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was staying, documenting the floor… pic.twitter.com/DfgnrFBHHe

— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) May 18, 2025

A Warning Shot for National Security

This unprecedented case reveals a sophisticated and deeply concerning strategy by Iran: targeting disaffected Israeli youth online and exploiting them for espionage and influence operations on the ground. On Monday, it was revealed that an 18-year old Israeli from Yavne for spying for Iran - as those details come together, it is expected that the specifics would resemble the case of the 16 year old.

Israeli intelligence officials are said to be alarmed by the ease with which the teens were radicalized and operationalized — and are now investigating whether other youths may be similarly compromised.

As tensions with Iran continue to escalate across multiple fronts — from the digital battlefield to the streets of Israeli cities — the indictment serves as a chilling reminder: The war against Israel is being waged not just with rockets and proxies, but with smartphones, apps, and ideology.