Israeli authorities have launched an investigation after mysterious leaflets bearing the name of the Iranian-linked hacking group Handala appeared in Tel Aviv, warning of potential attacks against Israel’s water and electricity infrastructure.
According to the Hebrew-language news outlet i24, the threatening leaflets were distributed to residential mailboxes in northern Tel Aviv and contained QR codes directing recipients to the website of the Iranian hacking group Handala.
The leaflets reportedly appeared at several addresses on the morning of the discovery, prompting Israeli police to open an investigation into their origin and the messages they contained.
Police officers were dispatched to locations where residents had reported finding the leaflets. They conducted searches, collected evidence and began examining the circumstances surrounding their distribution.
Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, has also joined the investigation, reflecting the authorities’ concerns over the nature of the threats and the possible security implications.
Handala Claims Its Members Operated Across Tel Aviv Overnight
In a statement published on its website, Handala claimed that dozens of its operatives had moved through Tel Aviv during the night, going from door to door and distributing hundreds of thousands of warning leaflets to Israeli residents.
However, i24 emphasised that the group’s claims had not been independently verified.
According to the statement, the leaflets displayed Handala’s emblem alongside the hashtags #NoWater and #NoElectricity, as well as a link to its official website.
The website carried a warning that Israel’s vital civilian infrastructure could become a target in the event of further Israeli military action against Iran.
While Handala presented the distribution of the leaflets as an operation conducted by its members inside Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed the scale of the activity claimed by the group.
Threats to Target Power Stations, Oil Refineries and Desalination Plants
At the centre of Handala’s warning was an explicit threat of retaliation against Israel if its military launches further attacks on Iranian energy facilities.
The group warned that any renewed Israeli targeting of Iran’s energy infrastructure would be met with attacks against Israeli power stations, oil refineries and water desalination facilities.
These installations are essential to electricity generation, energy supplies and access to water, making them particularly sensitive targets in any potential escalation.
According to i24, Handala’s statement suggested that such retaliation could cause widespread shortages of electricity and water, potentially forcing Israelis to remain in shelters without access to basic services.
The threats represented a warning of possible disruption to Israel’s essential infrastructure rather than a claim that such attacks had already taken place.
‘No Electricity, No Water, No Hope’
Handala concluded its statement with a direct warning aimed at Israeli residents:
“No electricity, no water, no hope.”
The message reinforced the group’s threat that future Israeli attacks against Iranian energy infrastructure could trigger retaliation targeting Israel’s essential services.
The appearance of the leaflets in residential neighbourhoods also raised questions about who was responsible for distributing them and whether the activity involved individuals operating locally or other methods.
Israeli police have not announced any findings identifying those responsible for the distribution.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police and Shin Bet examining the leaflets, their contents and the circumstances in which they appeared.
Israeli authorities have urged anyone who discovers similar material to report it through the police emergency hotline.
