Israel has confirmed that it took control of mobile phones belonging to Gaza residents and Hamas members during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
According to an official statement posted on Israel’s verified X account, the unusual operation allowed the Israeli government to broadcast Netanyahu’s speech directly through the seized phones, ensuring that people in Gaza heard his message in real time. The broadcast reportedly echoed across the Strip alongside loudspeakers that were simultaneously transmitting the address.
Netanyahu’s remarks, directed pointedly at Hamas and Gaza’s civilian population, reiterated Israel’s conditions for ending the ongoing conflict. He stressed that hostilities would cease only after the immediate release of Israeli hostages, the full disarmament of Hamas, and the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip.
“This war can end today,” Netanyahu declared in his UN speech, “if the hostages are returned, Hamas is dismantled, and Gaza is demilitarised. Until then, Israel will defend itself with full force.”
The decision to broadcast his message through Gaza residents’ phones has sparked sharp debate. While Israeli officials have described it as an innovative way to bypass Hamas censorship and speak directly to the people, critics see it as an invasive tactic that raises serious questions about privacy, digital warfare, and the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
International reactions have so far been mixed. Supporters of Israel argue that the direct communication underscores the urgency of Israel’s security concerns and demonstrates transparency about its goals in Gaza. Human rights advocates, however, warn that seizing personal communication channels during wartime risks further alienating civilians and could set a dangerous precedent in modern conflicts.
This latest move comes amid heightened tensions following months of violence, airstrikes, and humanitarian crises in Gaza. Netanyahu’s UN appearance was already closely watched for its tone and substance, but the phone takeover has added a new dimension to the ongoing debate about Israel’s military strategy and the limits of cyber and information warfare in the Middle East.