Anti-Israel activists hack into international websites to start the "cyber intifada"

Credit: Screenshot

A group of hackers under the name Team System Dz are hacking into websites and posting anti-Israel messages that condone rockets into Israel

Aviva GatJul 13, 2014

Credit: Screenshot

Attacks against Israel have been brought to a new platform on July 11 when hackers under the name of Team System Dz started hacking into websites and posting anti-Israel messages, calling on hackers and activists to start a hacking campaign against “IsraHell” called #OpSaveGaza.

So far the hackers have taken over websites for Swype, a Washington-based virtual keyboard for touchscreens; Ceinga, a Spanish IT and computer repair business; Mother’s Pouch, an Indian daycare center; Silverteam, a Brazilian programming development company; Suzuki South, a South African motorcycle retailer; among many others. It is unclear why the group targeted these sites, as none seem to be located in Israel, nor have any connections to the country.

The hackers have two different messages they display on the hacked sites. One is in English and calls on “Hackers, Human Right Organisations and Activists all around the world to unite again and start a campaign against Israhell.” The hackers say “The act of launching rockets from Gaza sector to Israhell is an acceptable and normal reaction,” and that they want to expose “Israel war activity.”

“Anonymous collective, all Hacker teams will join this operation inchallah and we will be the cyber resistance, the cyber shield, the voice of the forgoten [sic] people….join the cyber intifada.”

The other page shows a picture of Saddam Hussein, in Arabic calls him a martyr, and shows a picture of a child being dragged by soldiers with the caption “Gaza’s children die.” Both pages play daunting music most likely to instill fear into the viewers of the page.

Credit: Screenshot

Another type of warfare

Team System Dz is posting all the pages it has hacked on its Facebook page. According to that page, the team is a group of Arab youth that is looking to teach protection and penetration of sites and services and strive for peace. Their hacks however don’t appear to be looking for peace. The group seems to align itself with Anonymous, as it promotes hashtag #AnonArtsInternational, which showcases the hacker group’s works.

The move comes after Hamas has been launching rockets into Israel for almost a week. As of Sunday, Hamas has launched more than 700 rockets into Israel since it started firing earlier this month. Israel has intercepted most of the rockets, namely the ones heading to populated areas with the Iron Dome. There has reportedly been only one casualty, a woman in Haifa who had a heart attack when running to a shelter, but several people were injured Friday when a rocket hit a gas station in Ashdod.

Hamas’ attack on Israel has grown from just rockets and this week it implemented new tactics to incite fear in Israel, and sympathy from the rest of the world. For example, on Saturday evening Hamas gave warning of a surprise it had for Israel at 9:00pm. While the surprise was just more of the same rockets seen all week, the announcement beforehand aimed at psychological warfare, trying to create fear in civilian centers, namely the greater Tel Aviv area.

In trying to create sympathy in the rest of the world, Hamas has launched a Twitter feed with the hashtag #GazaUnderAttack, which shows pictures from the civil war in Syria or of previous wars in Iraq under the false pretense that such pictures are actually depictions of the current situation in Gaza.

Israel’s response

Israel, meanwhile, has struck more than 1,300 targets in Gaza known to be command centers or places where rockets are stored or fired. There have been roughly 100 casualties in Gaza during these airstrikes, which is a pretty low percentage considering the number of targets and the fact that many of the Hamas command centers are placed in private homes, schools, hospitals and mosques so civilians can be used as human shields. Israel does give warning to people before striking any target so civilians can choose to evacuate, but in many instances this policy has been having the reverse effect, with Gaza civilians flocking to declared targets under encouragement by Hamas to protect terror activities in the capacity of human shields.

Hopefully the hacked websites will regain control soon. Hacking into sites unrelated to Israel doesn’t seem like a smart move for pro-Palestinian supporters. Owners of those websites are probably more likely angry with the hackers, than they are now support their cause. But logic has never really been a part of Hamas’ agenda.

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Aviva Gat

About Aviva Gat

Olah Chadasha and former finance reporter from New York City. Gat is a writer, runner and traveler who came to Israel for the good food and weather. She writes for Geektime’s English and global desk.