Iranian hackers claim breach of Netanyahu chief of staff’s phone
Hackers allege sweeping misconduct, but released files show little of substance.
An Iranian hacking group calling itself Handala has published a collection of materials, including contact information, photos, and correspondence, that it claims were stolen from the smartphone of Tzachi Braverman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff.
Earlier today, the group claimed it had hacked Braverman’s smartphone and obtained instant messaging conversations, emails, and other materials containing evidence of “vile financial and moral acts,” including extortion, abuse of power, and bribery. However, none of the materials published so far appear to substantiate those claims.
According to Handala, the leaked materials include Braverman’s contact list, with phone numbers belonging to Yair and Sara Netanyahu, ambassadors to Israel, Israeli ambassadors abroad, senior officials in the defense establishment, and senior journalists.
The group also published videos from events attended by Braverman, mostly showing him watching speeches by foreign speakers, along with several unclassified documents, such as announcements issued by the government secretary to acquaintances, and a small number of correspondences with colleagues and friends that appear to lack substantive or sensitive content.
Handala further claimed that the full archive of the allegedly stolen information, which it says includes thousands of confidential correspondences, was sent to the email address of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
The Handala group is known for exaggeration and unfulfilled claims. Just last week, it asserted that it had hacked Bennett’s smartphone, when in fact the breach appears to have been limited to access to his Telegram account.
