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Revealed: Morocco Used Israeli Surveillance to Hack Senior French and Spanish Officials

Haaretz • July 16, 2026

An international investigation in partnership with Haaretz exposes the role of Morocco's intelligence apparatus in the affair, the penetration of devices of senior French and Spanish officials, and the hackings that marred a Panamanian presidential election

In late 2013, a young Israeli using the name Shalev Holy landed in Panama. According to the paperwork, he was there for tourism, and the address recorded was that of the Israeli Embassy in Panama City. The passport was a diplomatic passport.

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This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

Morocco's Use of Israeli Spyware Targets French and Spanish Officials An international investigation reveals that Morocco's intelligence apparatus utilized Israeli spyware to hack the devices of senior officials in France and Spain. The operation also involved interference in the Panamanian presidential election. The investigation highlights the involvement of an Israeli individual, Shalev Holy, who entered Panama in 2013 under a diplomatic passport. The spyware's capabilities and the extent of the breaches remain under scrutiny, with implications for international relations and cybersecurity practices. The investigation underscores the growing concern over the use of surveillance technology by state actors against foreign officials. Current status indicates ongoing investigations and potential diplomatic fallout. 2 sources 73

Extracted Entities

Countries (2)

Morocco Panama