Turkish authorities have arrested a man from Kosovo, Liridon Rexhepi, on charges of financing activities linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. According to reports from Turkish security sources, Rexhepi was detained by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Istanbul Counterterrorism Police on August 30, 2024. He is accused of managing financial operations for Mossad within Turkey, transferring funds to informants involved in intelligence activities against Palestinian politicians and gathering information on Syria.
Rexhepi reportedly entered Turkey on August 25, and under surveillance by MIT, was arrested just days later. During his interrogation, he allegedly confessed to transferring money to Mossad operatives through methods including Western Union. Turkish authorities also claim that some of the funds were routed through Eastern European countries, particularly Kosovo, and that cryptocurrencies were used to facilitate some of these transactions.
This arrest is part of a broader Turkish crackdown on alleged Mossad activities within its borders. Since January, dozens of individuals have been detained in connection with espionage operations, primarily targeting Palestinians residing in Turkey. Israel has not commented on the arrest or the broader allegations.
The development comes amid escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan being a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Erdogan has intensified his rhetoric, halting trade with Israel and expressing strong support for Hamas.
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