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An Iran-linked hacker group calling itself Handala published the personal information of 69 Israeli naval officers it says participated in the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, announcing a $100,000 bounty on each individual and warning Israeli cabinet members they are under surveillance.
Handala posted the alleged personal details of the 69 soldiers, whom it identified as members of Shayetet 13, Israel's elite naval commando unit, through its account on X, the social media platform owned by U.S.-based company X Corp.
The group described the Israeli military personnel as those who "spread corruption and devastation across the seas," invoking the Arabic phrase "Zahar al-Fasad fi al-Bahr" in its post.
The Israeli government has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the authenticity of the published data.
Beyond the soldier-level disclosures, Handala directed a pointed message at far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other members of the Tel Aviv cabinet, claiming that each minister is being monitored both digitally and physically.
"Know that no crime, on land or at sea, will go unanswered," the group wrote, addressing Ben-Gvir directly. "You and all the corrupt and bloodthirsty in this cabinet will be pursued by the shadows of the Resistance everywhere."
The Sumud Flotilla disclosure is consistent with a broader campaign Handala has waged against Israeli institutions and officials. On April 9, the group claimed to have infiltrated the electronic devices of former Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, publishing what it said were classified photographs and videos obtained from those devices.
The group has previously announced intrusions into the phones of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, and Tzachi Braverman, the chief adviser to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set out carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza when it was intercepted by Israeli military in international waters, an action Handala characterized as unlawful. Shayetet 13, the unit implicated in the interception, is one of Israel's most storied special operations formations, with a history of maritime raids and hostage rescue operations dating back decades.
Handala declared its "solidarity and unwavering support" for the flotilla and pledged to stand by what it called "the mujahideen of the sea until the very end."
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