While President Recep Tayyip Erdogan loudly condemns Israel over its actions in Gaza, a shocking intelligence scandal has rocked Türkiye — revealing that Israel’s Mossad was operating an active spy network on Turkish soil, with a former Turkish police officer at its helm.

According to Turkish media reports, Gönen Karakaya, a former law enforcement official, was identified as the leader of a Mossad-backed espionage cell that allegedly spied on Palestinian activists and residents in Türkiye. The incident has left Erdogan’s government red-faced and raised serious concerns about Türkiye’s internal security vulnerabilities.

Erdogan’s Rhetoric vs. Reality

Since the start of the Gaza war, Erdogan has positioned himself as a vocal opponent of Israel and a self-styled defender of Palestinian rights. However, critics now say the revelation exposes a stark contradiction: even as Erdogan denounces Israeli aggression abroad, Palestinians were being spied on under his watch inside Türkiye.

Opposition leaders are slamming Erdogan for failing to protect Palestinian residents and activists, accusing him of mere posturing rather than taking meaningful action.

Details of the Mossad Operation

The investigation, conducted by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), led to the arrest of seven suspects, including:

• Gönen Karakaya – former police officer and alleged ringleader

• Ahmet Yurtseven – his associate

• Five other individuals reportedly involved in intelligence-gathering operations

The group is accused of leaking sensitive information on at least eight Palestinians to Mossad and of relaying internal intelligence, including details related to Zindaşti, a known criminal figure.

Massive Sentences Sought

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has concluded its investigation, and prosecutors are seeking prison terms totaling up to 640 years for the group, citing national security violations and espionage.

This incident not only exposes a major breach in Türkiye’s sovereignty, but also raises troubling questions about the extent of foreign spy operations in the region — at a time when tensions in the Middle East are already at a boiling point.