ALBAWABA - The U.S. Department of Justice accused two Sudanese brothers for computer intrusions that disrupted Israeli alarm systems during the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation on October 7, 2023.
Ahmed Youssef Omar (22) and Alaa Youssef Omar (27), brothers, are accused of leading the world's most dangerous hacking group, "Anonymous Sudan," according to The New York Times and Yedioth Ahronoth.
The brothers' computer attack crippled Israel's early warning and Iron Dome defensive systems as Palestinian resistance fighters from Gaza conducted a large-scale assault, according to the indictment. A few minutes after Hamas penetrated the Israeli border, the strike prevented rocket launching and resistance fighter entry into settlements.
The brothers are also accused of targeting Israel's emergency and Home Front apps from October 7 to 9 during the operation. The U.S. Attorney General said the cyberattack disabled warning systems vital to Israeli people' safety, endangering thousands.
The New York Times said that Ahmed Omar used his computer to launch the strike early on October 7 when Hamas soldiers broke over the Israeli border. The publication said that the cyber attack momentarily damaged Israel's early warning systems, preventing life-saving alarms.
The brothers' criminal case in California was revealed this week. The U.S. Attorney for California's Central District called "Anonymous Sudan" one of the world's most dangerous DDoS attackers.
The indictment accuses "Anonymous Sudan" with 35,000 cyber assaults since its founding, including high-profile strikes. A Los Angeles hospital's computer system failure shifted emergency services to neighboring hospitals.
The brothers said the bombing was revenge for Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals during their imprisonment. They said on Telegram, "You bomb our hospitals in Gaza, we’ll shut down yours too—an eye for an eye."
