Sixteen people have been tried in Istanbul on charges of political and military spying for Israel, AP reported, citing Turkish media.

According to the pro-government newspaper Sabah and other Turkish media, the accused, including Palestinians and Syrians, were arrested in October in an operation by Turkey's National Intelligence Agency. They face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

The suspects are said to have spied on Palestinian and Turkish students and others on Israel's behalf, operating in five separate groups, the Sabah newspaper reported. Some of the suspects met with Israeli officials in Switzerland, Croatia, Romania and Kenya.

Turkish intelligence officials reportedly followed the group for a year before they were arrested.

Turkish officials bring no comment on the situation yet.