According to information released by the state-run Anadolu Agency, the arrest was made as part of a joint operation called Mitron, carried out by the National Intelligence Service (MIT), in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Anti-Terrorism Department of the Istanbul Security Directorate.

According to security sources, Cicek, whose original name was Mehmet Fatih Kalash, was recruited by Faisal Rashid, a member of Israel’s so-called Cyber ​​Operations Center, to track and monitor a Palestinian activist residing in the Başakşehir district, known for his opposition to Israeli policies in the region.

Investigations revealed that Cicek had changed his identity after accumulating significant business debts.

In 2020, he founded a private investigation firm, Pandora Investigations, through which he forged ties with Musa Koç, previously arrested and sentenced to 19 years in prison for collaborating with the Mossad, and with lawyer Tuğrul Han Deb.

Authorities detailed that the suspect failed to gather the information requested by his Israeli contact. On August 3, Rashid cut off all communication with him.

Cicek’s arrest follows a series of operations carried out by Turkish security forces against spy networks linked to Israel, amid growing tensions over the situation in Palestine and the strengthening of ties between Ankara and sectors supportive of the Palestinian cause.

So far, there has been no official reaction from the Israeli government.

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