Hamas Sends Israelis Threatening Text Messages

Many Israeli cell phone users received text messages in broken Hebrew and English on Saturday threatening them with Qassam rockets or kidnappings.

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Some of the texts said the cell phone user had been chosen “to be the next Gilad Shalit,” referring to the soldier who was abducted to Gaza in 2006 and held for more than five years. Other messages warned Israelis of Qassam rockets, adding that “if you want life, leave this country.”

Also, Hamas activists hacked into the news website Israel Defense, which is available in both English and Hebrew. The following message, shown here verbatim, was posted there.

“Ten years ago, Zionist Helicopters launched three missiles, killing our beloved sheikh Ahmed Yassin as he leaves the mosque after morning prayers. This is to remind you that we don’t forget the blood of our sheik, We swear again to take revenge, and this time by taking off the head of your leaders.”

According to the message, “and now our missile can hit every corner of Zionist state You should know that the coming war will have the end of your state.”

Other messages, under the heading “Israel Defense Hacked,” were sent with pictures of missiles that can reach the greater Tel Aviv area from the Gaza Strip.

At least two of the messages were sent from phones whose area code shows the number was once used by career army officers. The area code was provided by the communications firm Mirs but went out of use after the Israel Defense Forces switched carriers. In any case, military sources said the IDF had information on which cell phone users had received threatening messages.

The IDF said such psychological warfare had been tried in the past; for example, during recent operations in the Gaza Strip. The IDF itself sends messages to residents of the Strip; for example, in October, when a tunnel was uncovered near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha in the Negev.