International digital investigators claim that Israel used controversial spy software to target Palestinian human rights activists.
According to Arab News, in a press release, Frontline Defenders (FLD) based in Dublin outlined how Israel arrested six human rights groups two days after the discovery of the use of espionage applications. Declared 'terrorist' organizations.The FLD said its digital forensic investigation had "revealed the presence of Pegasus spyware in the phones of at least six Palestinian human rights groups."
The search for Israeli spyware began on October 16 when a staff member of the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq contacted the FLD over concerns about their phone.
"Forensic analysis was performed immediately and it was determined by the next day that Pegasus spyware was present," the statement said.
The next day, the FLD's digital protection coordinator, Mohammed al-Muscati, met with representatives of six Palestinian NGOs, Al-Zameer, Al-Haq, Defense for Children Palestine, The Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Besan Center for Research and Development, and The Union of Palestine Women's Committees. Also requested additional information in a meeting.
After reporting the breach, six of the 75 devices checked were found to be infected with Pegasus spyware.
The FLD, the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, and its Amnesty International Security Lab, which independently reviewed FLD's work and verified the results, failed to identify the client whose spyware Was posted But he noted that "the steps taken by the Israeli government raise many questions."
