Hamas Affiliates Send SMS Threats to Israelis, Hack Websites
Ynet: Hamas Messages Israelis: Leave the Country (Hebrew)
Has the incident in Jenin triggered psychological warfare? Unidentified Palestinian elements launched threatening SMS messages on behalf of Hamas’s Military Wing to the cellphones of many Israeli citizens. One of the messages sent in Hebrew stated: “Warning to Zionists… Al Qassam missiles are waiting for you.. If you want the lives (sic) then flee our country.”
According to reports on Israeli media outlets, some of the recipients of the messages were spokespersons of Israeli ministries, spokespersons for ministers and deputy ministers.
The messages were sent from 057 and 059 address codes, the latter of which associated with the Palestinian Authority. Another SMS message sent to Israeli citizens in Hebrew stated that “Al-Qassam promises revenge, and there was revenge, and the score is not settled, the worst is yet to come.” A third message, sent in English, invoked the abduction of the Israeli Gilad Shalit, who was released after years in captivity, stating “Al-Qassam has chosen you to be the next Shalite .. be ready.”
It is unclear at this time if the messages are tied directly to a counter terrorism raid carried out by IDF forces that took place in the Palestinian city of Jenin. Three Palestinians were killed and two IDF soldiers were wounded in an effort to apprehend Hamas operative Hamza Abu Al Haija, after dozens of armed Palestinians opened fire at the IDF forces during the raid.
Earlier today, the database of the defense-oriented website Israel Defense was seemingly hacked, after email messages were sent to subscribers with threatening statements directed against Israel and Israeli citizens, bearing photos of deceased Sheik Ahmed Yassin, one of the founders of Hamas. The messages, sent by ‘Followers of Al Yassin’, stated that “This is a reminder that we will not forget the spilled blood of our sheik. We swear to avenge again, and this time to cut off the heads of your leaders… You must know that the next war will be the end of your state”.
According to a statement issued by the website, the message services are carried out by an external system, and that according to a preliminary examination, “there is no sign of an attack against other databases connected to the website.”