Overview
- The Handala group published contact lists, chats, documents and photos in an operation it calls “Operation Octopus.”
- Naftali Bennett said his phone shows no evidence of compromise but confirmed unauthorized access to his Telegram account and cautioned that some circulated items are fabricated.
- The Shin Bet and other Israeli authorities launched an investigation to verify the disclosures and examine whether an associate’s device or another vector enabled access.
- Media reports said many released phone numbers appear genuine and include senior Israeli officials as well as foreign leaders.
- The episode has political and security ramifications given Bennett’s standing as a leading rival to Benjamin Netanyahu and his background in cybersecurity.