Two Israeli citizens were arrested recently on suspicion of spying on Defense Minister Israel Katz on behalf of Iran, Israel Police and the Shin Bet said Tuesday in a joint statement.

What happened: Roy Mizrahi and Almog Atias, both 24 years old and residents of the Haifa suburb of Nesher, are suspected of conducting intelligence-gathering missions for Iran in the village of Kfar Ahim, south of Israel, where Katz resides. They were arrested at the end of April, but it was only on Tuesday that authorities authorized the publication of the affair.

Mizrahi was allegedly in contact with Iranian agents over the past few months. Neither he nor Atias have criminal records, but both allegedly agreed to spy for Iran after accumulating gambling debts. Some of the spying missions communicated to Mizrahi by the Iranians, he carried out himself, the police claimed. Other missions were carried out jointly with Atias. The two suspects acted "with full knowledge they were acting under Iranian direction, and that these missions, financially motivated, could harm state security," the statement said. In addition, Mizrahi was asked by his handlers to purchase a cellphone and install an encrypted app for communication with them.

Among the missions carried out by the two was the transfer of a bag, believed by Mizrahi to contain an explosive device, from one location to another at the instruction of Iranian handlers. Mizrahi and Atias allegedly tried to install surveillance cameras in the vicinity of Katz’s home to detect his comings and goings, but fled the place before carrying out that mission because of the presence of security forces. Ynet reported that the authorities believe they were preparing the ground for an assassination of Katz. Another mission involved purchasing a livestream web camera that was installed by Mizrahi in crowded locations in Haifa. The control over the livestream was transferred by Mizrahi to his handlers.