ALBAWABA- Reports indicate that Iranian hackers may have breached the smartphone of Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The pro-Iranian hacking group Handala claimed responsibility on social media, posting that it had obtained sensitive information, including encrypted chats, financial dealings, and alleged abuses of power. The group warned of imminent public releases, dubbing the incident “Bibi Gate.”
Braverman, 66, has served as Netanyahu’s chief of staff since April 2022 and was recently approved as Israel’s ambassador to the UK.
The alleged hack comes amid a series of cyberattacks targeting Israeli officials, including a December 17 breach of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Telegram account, also attributed to Handala.
Israeli authorities have not confirmed the breach. Security analysts note that such claims highlight the intensifying cyber espionage between Tehran and Tel Aviv, part of a broader regional shadow war involving hacktivism, disinformation, and targeted operations.
In 2025 alone, over 120 pro-Iranian hacktivist campaigns have been reported, raising concerns for Israeli security, foreign officials, and international companies.
