It has been over a year since the cyber conflict that is raging between Hamas and Israel, the voice for the international community virtually signifying how digital warfare can have a role to play in global tensions. It started through hacker groups such as Anonymous Sudan and Sylhet Gang, targeting Israeli institutions like the Jerusalem Post and hacking the Tel Aviv Medical Center with the aim of disrupting its functioning. However, there is ThreatSec attacking Palestinian service providers, signifying the reach and scale with which these digits battles are fought.
These cyber skirmishes expanded globally, with the FBI warning about potential cyberattacks on US military bases and rising threats from fraudulent cryptocurrency fundraisers exploiting the war. By the end of 2023, both Israeli and Palestinian groups, such as Gaza Cybergang and Predatory Sparrow, had launched sophisticated cyberattacks and espionage campaigns, making cyberwarfare relevant in modern conflict.
A striking example of the real-world impact occurred when Turkish hackers projected violent political messages in a Tel Aviv theater, while Israel reported thwarting over 3 billion cyberattacks. In 2025, experts predict an escalation in phishing, disinformation, and attacks on critical infrastructure. For example, phishing attacks like those from the “Wirte” APT group have used documents and malware to target governments. As tensions continue to rise, organizations are advised to prepare for an increase in targeted malware attacks, with advanced security systems and training becoming essential for defense.
More and more, state-sponsored actors, such as Iran, would get involved in cyberattacks as they would escalate with any military conflict. Every day, cyber capabilities grow, and it remains a shadow of digital warfare over-spilling into geopolitical conflicts.
