Iran-backed hackers disrupted Gaza ceasefire negotiations, says Israeli cybersecurity firm

Iranian hackers gained access to email of Omani official

The spear phishing campaign masquerading as communication from Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was carried out by the Homeland Justice group associated with the Ministry of Intelligence and Security of Iran, it said.

Recipients of the email from alleged Iranian hackers included Egyptian officials, representatives from the United States and Qatar. (Photo: AP)

After gaining access to the legitimate email account of an employee at the Omani Embassy in Paris, the cybercriminals sent emails that appeared to be genuine diplomatic correspondence, but were infected with malware hidden inside Word documents.

Officials involved in ceasefire talks targeted

According to Dream, the recipients of the email included Egyptian officials engaged in ceasefire mediation, as well as representatives from the United States and Qatar.

Ten international organisations, including the UN, UNODC, UNICEF, World Bank, Order of Malta, and the African Union, were also targeted by the Iranian hackers, the company said.

It noted that the Iranian cyberattack was similar to a 2023 cyberattack in Albania, which was also attributed to Iranian actors, suggesting a broader geopolitical pattern in which cyber tools are used to disrupt diplomatic engagement.

Gaza ceasefire deal

The revelation comes at a time when the Gaza ceasefire deal is stuck in limbo due to the lack of response from Israel.

On August 18, Hamas had accepted the ceasefire deal, put forward by the Qatari and Egyptian mediators. It proposed a cessation of Israeli army operations for 60 days, during which it would withdraw to allow the entry of humanitarian aid. As part of the deal, half of the remaining 50 captives would also be exchanged for Palestinian detainees.

Israel, on the other hand, has not accepted the ceasefire deal yet and has gone ahead with its planned takeover of Gaza City and other strongholds of Hamas.