Transgender former Israeli spy detained by ICE in US

A transgender Israeli woman who served in Israel’s military intelligence directorate is facing deportation from the US after being convicted of imprisonment. 

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Thursday that it had detained Alon, "a criminal illegal alien from Israel, during targeted operations in Concord, New Hampshire”. ICE used Alon’s former first name, Avishay.

“Alon’s criminal history includes conviction for criminal threat against person with deadly weapon, kidnapping, and drug possession,” ICE said on social media. 

Alon previously served in the Israeli military’s Unit 81, considered one of the military’s most highly classified divisions, specialising in technology for the Intelligence Directorate's special operations.

The Jerusalem Post cited Alon’s lawyers saying that, after serving in Unit 81, Alon transitioned gender, and held senior engineering roles in Amazon and Microsoft. 

Alon was arrested in September 2024 over the kidnapping of a male acquaintance who she suspected had put GHB, a date rape drug, into her water bottle. The Jerusalem Post reported the kidnapping idea was sparked by another friend, Brian Levy, who reportedly suggested interrogating the victim. 

According to the indictment, Alon had two loaded handguns in the house, including one with a silencer, which she pointed at the victim. The kidnapping was foiled when police arrived at Alon’s home in Dover, New Hampshire, to investigate a suspicious car outside. Officers heard the victim’s cries for help. 

Alon was tried as a male suspect, despite identifying as a woman, and on 7 July sentenced to between two and six years in a state prison. 

Alon launched legal proceedings over being made to serve her jail time in a male prison. She reportedly sought transgender medical care and a transfer to a female prison. On 20 August, Alon was instead transferred to immigration authorities.