Hamas-linked hackers wage cyberwar on Israel after Gaza strike, but damage unclear

Hackers sympathetic to Hamas launched cyberattacks against Israel after the Oct 7 strike, claiming to have compromised websites, infrastructure, and defense systems.

The attacks likely originated outside Gaza due to limited internet connectivity there. The hackers have links to Iran and Russia, both Hamas supporters.

It's unclear how much damage the cyberattacks caused. Some sites went down briefly but were restored.

The cyber campaign aimed to support Hamas's physical offensive, but coordination between the groups seemed unlikely.

Israel has advanced cyber defenses but Iran is capable of more sophisticated attacks and supports proxies that conduct hacks. Hamas is investigating how it evaded detection in planning the Oct 7 strike.