WANA (Dec 17) – The personal mobile phone of Naftali Bennett, Israel’s former prime minister, was hacked in a cyber operation carried out by the group known as “Hanzala,” leading to the exposure of a large volume of personal and official data, including the phone numbers of senior Israeli officials. The incident has intensified concerns over the cybersecurity of Israel’s political and security establishment.

 

According to information released by the group, the operation—codenamed “Octopus”—targeted an iPhone 13 linked to Bennett. The extracted data reportedly includes contact lists containing phone numbers of high-ranking officials, internal correspondence, sensitive documents, draft official letters, and personal images.

 

Some of the disclosed files are dated July 2025 and include political notes pointing to internal disputes, criticism within governing circles, and assessments of senior ministers. In several documents, certain officials are described as political liabilities for the ruling coalition.

Hanzala has released more than 140 pages containing the phone numbers of senior Israeli officials. Social media /WANA News Agency 

Additional materials reference policies related to security prisoners and economic measures against Hamas, as well as proposed financial actions in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority.

 

In a sharply worded statement, the Hanzala group directly addressed Bennett, describing the breach as evidence of what it called “deep structural vulnerabilities” within Israel’s security architecture. The group argued that the incident goes beyond a personal embarrassment and exposes fundamental weaknesses in systems long portrayed as impenetrable.

 

The cyber group further stated that no amount of political messaging or public relations efforts could conceal what it described as the fragility of Israel’s cybersecurity infrastructure. It also claimed it is prepared to provide the full contents of Bennett’s compromised iPhone 13 to media outlets and journalists seeking further verification.

Bennett’s office has confirmed that relevant security agencies are reviewing the incident. However, no official confirmation has been issued regarding the authenticity or full scope of the leaked materials.

 

Meanwhile, several Israeli media outlets have reported that Iranian intelligence services may have been involved in the cyberattack—an allegation that has not been independently verified.

 

Naftali Bennett served as Israel’s prime minister from 2021 to 2022 and later stepped away from frontline political power. If confirmed, the breach could carry significant political and security implications, both domestically and internationally, for Israel’s leadership and its cyber defense posture.