Iranian Hackers Breach Phone of Netanyahu’s Chief of Staff, Launch “Operation BibiGate”

A prominent Iranian hacking group known as “Handala” has claimed responsibility for breaching the mobile phone of Tzachi Braverman, the Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The security breach, first reported by Israeli Channel 12, has allegedly exposed a “vast volume” of sensitive data from the Prime Minister’s inner circle, raising alarms within Israel’s security establishment.
In a statement released on Telegram, the cyber group announced it had successfully infiltrated Braverman’s device—identified as an iPhone 16 Pro Max—and had been monitoring his communications for an extended period. The group declared the start of “Operation BibiGate,” threatening to leak confidential documents, encrypted conversations, and details regarding “behind-the-scenes relations and corruption” at the highest levels of the Israeli government.
“To Netanyahu’s inner circle… every secret you entrusted to Tzachi Braverman—the gatekeeper and the vault of all forbidden truths—has now been completely opened,” the group’s message reportedly read. The hackers claim to possess evidence of “shameful moral and financial extravagances” and hidden political deals.
This incident marks the latest in a rapid series of cyberattacks targeting high-profile Israeli officials. Just days prior, the same group claimed to have hacked the phone of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, publishing contact lists and personal photos to substantiate their access. Similar breaches were reported involving the devices of Likud MKs Tally Gotliv and Moshe Saada, who confirmed their phones were undergoing security checks.
The Shin Bet and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate are reportedly investigating the breach. While officials have not verified the authenticity of the stolen material, the pattern of attacks suggests a coordinated psychological and intelligence warfare campaign by Tehran, timed to coincide with heightened regional tensions.