Anonymous Claims Massive Data Breach of Israeli Justice Ministry, Threatens to Expose Alleged Corruption
In a bold and audacious move, the hacking collective known as Anonymous has once again made headlines by allegedly targeting the Israeli Ministry of Justice servers. The group claims to have successfully breached the ministry’s servers in multiple operations, acquiring a substantial 300GB of sensitive data, including official documents, employee details, contact information, and even data related to judges.
Anonymous Issues Stern Warning to "Cruel Officials"
The video message released by Anonymous serves as a stern warning to what they describe as “cruel officials” within the Israeli government, calling attention to their alleged corruption and unethical behavior. The group claims that despite prior warnings issued during their hacking of the nuclear organization, these officials ignored their admonitions.
Anonymous has vowed to expose the purported corruption and misconduct of Israeli leaders to the global community, indicating their intention to disseminate the obtained information widely. Additionally, the group stated that they have shared this information as a “gift” to those who have suffered losses due to Israeli military actions.
In a message to the Israeli government, Anonymous hinted at the potential escalation of their operations, suggesting that their actions could have significant consequences. The group implores Israeli officials to reconsider their actions, particularly concerning what they describe as an “unequal war” and the loss of innocent lives, especially children.
Israeli Ministry of Justice Acknowledges "Cyber Incident"
The Israeli Ministry of Justice acknowledged the “cyber incident” on Friday through a social media platform X (formerly Twitter) post. The ministry stated that experts from within the ministry and other entities are currently investigating the incident and assessing its implications. They also noted that it would take time to comprehensively examine the content, scope, and sources of the leaked materials.
Despite the breach, the Justice Ministry asserted that it had prepared for such a scenario and that its operations remain uninterrupted. The ministry’s preliminary examination found no damage to its services.
This cyberattack comes amidst heightened vigilance in Israel for potential Iranian retaliation following the alleged assassination of a senior Iranian official, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, at the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The Israeli security establishment had prepared for various scenarios, ranging from rocket attacks on Israeli targets to the launch of ballistic missiles from Iran.
Cyberattack Coincides with Quds Day and Gaza Conflict
The incident also coincides with Iran’s annual Quds Day, held on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. This year, the day was marked in the context of the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has led to a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave and increased regional tensions.
According to health authorities in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed more than 33,000 Palestinians and wounded at least 75,000 others during the six-month bombardment aimed at eliminating the Islamist group Hamas. The war began on Oct. 7 after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed, and some 250 people seized as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Anonymous for Justice, the group claiming responsibility for the breach, stated on its website that it would persist in attacking Israel “until the war in Gaza stops.” The group published files it claimed to have obtained during the breach, such as legal documents, drafts of bilateral agreements, and contracts marked as confidential. However, Reuters has not independently verified the authenticity of these leaked documents.
Cybersecurity Experts Highlight Risks and Challenges
