After an investigation, the Israel National Cyber Directorate revealed on Thursday that Iran is behind the recent intimidation campaign trying to instill fear in the members of the Israeli delegation to the Paris Olympics.
A group of hackers opened social media channels where they published personal information of the Israeli delegation and sent threatening messages. The Cyber Directorate is working to remove the channels through the cyber unit of the State Attorney's Office.
The campaign was carried out while trying to impersonate a French organization called GUD. Israeli athletes received "invitations" to their own funerals with their personal information, as well as a "location" for the funeral. Many Israeli athletes have received these threats, including the flag bearer at the opening ceremony Peter Paltchik. The message sent to swimmer Meiron Cheruti reads: "You are welcome to attend the funeral of Meiron Amir Cheruti, born on 19/10/1997, died on 27/07/2024."
Peter Palchik addressed the issue before the delegation left for Paris: "I wasn't afraid of the threats for a moment. The only unpleasant thing I experienced was the intrusion into my privacy: Instagram, messages, emails," he said, "We were thoroughly briefed by the Olympic Committee on everything related to these harassments, so we are ready and focused. The Olympic Committee gave us workshops, we sat with psychologists, cyber experts, and it was clear to us that this is what we will experience as Israeli athletes in Paris."
Another email sent to the athletes read: "The fate of the Zionists will be like that of the Palestinians in Gaza if the Zionists continue to terrorize everyone." The Cyber Directorate is working with the Israeli Olympic Committee and the Culture and Sports Ministry to protect the members of the delegation. Gaby Portnoy, director general of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, said: "Iran is taking advantage of an apolitical international sports competition to promote digital terrorism against Israel and its right to participate in these competitions."
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar added: "Once again we are exposed to the attempts of the head of the snake to threaten Israeli athletes and to use psychological terror on our amazing delegation. We are here in Paris with all our strength and nothing will stop us. Our athletes are ready and determined more than ever to bring medals home and our security personnel is prepared for any scenario.
In response, the Olympic Committee strongly condemned the intimidation campaigns targeting Israeli athletes, which they see as a serious attempt to harm the safety and peace of the Israeli athletes.
"With regard to the security of the Israeli athletes we have the full confidence in the French authorities," International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told a press conference. "The French authorities are responsible for security. They are working very meticulously, working very professionally, working with 180 other international intelligence services collecting all the information. They are contributing to make these Olympic Games game safe and secure."