WANA (Oct 26) – The Israeli Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against three Turkish citizens, accusing them of attempting to smuggle firearms from Iran into Israel through Jordan. The indictment, submitted to the Nazareth District Court, charges the suspects with arms trafficking for a terrorist purpose and illegally entering Israel.

 

According to reports, the defendants — Rahman Gokayir, Yunus Ozal, and Oktay Asci — are alleged to have been involved in a multi-year plot that included coordination with foreign arms dealers and plans to transport weapons across borders.

 

The Jerusalem Post reports that Asci and Gokayir were arrested in September 2025 after infiltrating from Jordan into Israeli territory near Kibbutz Sha’ar HaGolan, south of the Sea of Galilee. Asci was also accused of preparing materials for “terrorist purposes.” At the time, Ozal was already residing in Israel.

 

The indictment alleges that in September 2025, Gokayir and Asci agreed with others to enter Israel illegally through Jordan. The two reportedly traveled from Turkey to Saudi Arabia and then to Jordan, where they planned to smuggle three pistols. However, due to disagreements, the weapons were never transferred, and the men entered Israel unarmed.

 

It further claims that Asci, who had previously lived in Israel without a work visa for about two and a half years before being deported in July 2025, proposed that Gokayir join an arms smuggling network linked to an Iranian weapons dealer.

 

Under the alleged plan, the firearms were to be moved first to Jordan and then smuggled into Israel using laborers crossing the border. Gokayir was reportedly supposed to receive and deliver the weapons to other parties and collect payment. For his role, he was promised $1 million.

 

The indictment also states that Asci once received a package containing a pistol, which he buried near his apartment in Bat Yam, later hiding it in his home before passing it to another individual.

 

It further claims that Asci instructed Yunus Ozal to meet someone at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station to complete a transaction. Ozal allegedly arrived twice with cash, but the contact failed to show up. He then kept 5,000 shekels from the money he was carrying.

 

Ultimately, Israeli security forces arrested Rahman Gokayir, Oktay Asci, and two others on September 19 near Kibbutz Sha’ar HaGolan, before they could cross the Jordanian border into Israel.

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