The Websites of Israel’s Mossad and Shinbet intelligence services as well as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) site were knocked offline today following a Nov. 4 threat by Anonymous. However, members of the group may not be to blame.
On Nov. 4, members of Anonymous threatened a cyber-attack in retaliation for Israel’s interception that same day of two ships bound for Gaza. Israeli sailors boarded the ships as they approached Palestinian territory. The ships were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod after ignoring calls to turn back, according to reports.
After the incident, Anonymous warned in a video posted to YouTube that it would launch an attack in response to the situation – which it called “piracy on the high seas” – as well as the continued blockade.
“Your actions are illegal, against democracy, human rights, international and maritime laws,” the video declared.
The Israeli government however has stated the situation was not due to a cyber-attack, but the “systematic malfunction” of the government’s servers.
The sites remained down as of publication.
According to reports, Israeli officials have said that all 27 of the activists involved have either been deported or are set to be deported. The organizers of the flotilla however have told the media that some of the activists have remained behind because they refuse to sign the papers required to expel them from the country. The boats reportedly contained medical supplies and letters of support for people in Gaza.
