Much has been said about the political failure in recent weeks. Israel appears to the world as solely responsible for the Gaza crisis despite streaming enormous quantities of food. Beyond the government's failure in managing humanitarian aid and lack of public diplomacy, this development also results from a well-funded propaganda apparatus with multiple arms. A system managed by the terror organization's leadership abroad, receiving assistance from international media corporations, penetrating deep into Gaza's health system, training Palestinians for social media activity, and receiving support from students in the US. Most of its people have survived so far, and they have no intention of stopping. Still, there's nothing like playing on the almost empty field left by the Israeli side.

The seeds were planted in a Gaza newspaper printed in January 1996. Al-Risala was Hamas' publication, serving as a platform for extensive incitement against Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Indeed, the Authority often tried to shut it down without success. The initial editor was Salah al-Bardawil. Later, he would become one of the Political Bureau members in Gaza, led by Yahya Sinwar. This past March, he was eliminated in the Khan Younis area. A year after Al-Risala's publication, the "Palestinian Information Center" was established – a network of Palestinian news sites identified with Hamas in multiple languages.

Al-Bardawil didn't settle for written media. In 2006, he was a partner in establishing the Al-Aqsa TV propaganda network. Another partner was Fathi Hamad, who operated the channel through a subsidiary company he managed. Before the war, Hamad managed to leave for Turkey. During those years, the network established a radio station and a news agency called "Shihab."

Each platform was designed to capture a different segment of the Palestinian population. "Shihab" was responsible for the youth wing, and, not coincidentally, earned millions of followers on social networks. Over the years, every Hamas media entity (Al-Risala, Al-Aqsa TV, and others) established its own social media accounts. Together, an enormous mass of Hamas mouthpieces was created in the digital space. And this doesn't include influencers of all kinds, of course.

One of the network's managers is Palestinian media figure Wissam Afifa. This wasn't his first role. Previously, he managed Al-Risala. These days, Afifa is careful to present himself as a "commentator." In this capacity, he appears on the Qatari network Al-Jazeera and participates in echoing Hamas messages.

In a conversation with Israel Hayom, Dr. Ariel Admoni, a researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and Qatar expert, said that part of the Al-Aqsa TV network's staff received training from the Qatari Al-Jazeera network. "From the beginning, the Qataris were very involved in Hamas rule," Dr. Admoni said. "Qatari media knew how to break down the Gaza event into content suitable for different audiences. Those suitable for the supposedly institutional network of Al-Jazeera, and those suitable for more subversive platforms, like Al-Jazeera Plus, the Middle East Eye website, or even various influencers that Qatar finances.

"Qatar was a force multiplier in this context when recent campaigns received institutional support. That is, videos of Israeli soldiers being killed in the Gaza Strip received an echo from Qatari newspaper editors, like Jaber al-Harmi, editor of the Al-Sharq newspaper, owned by the Qatari Emir's family. Similarly, we can see how, in the recent starvation campaign, it wasn't just an Al-Jazeera production. Qatari ministers also participated, like Mariam al-Masnad, Qatar's Minister of State for International Cooperation, who usually reports more on meetings here and there, and suddenly she supposedly took a position on the shocking hunger in Gaza and how Israel is wrong."

The echo chamber

Simultaneously, Hamas still maintains a well-oiled spokesperson apparatus divided into military and civilian arms. The first is managed by Hadaifa al-Kahlout, known as Abu Obaida. Its missions include documenting hits on IDF soldiers, filming hostage videos, and transmitting the wing's messages through social networks. In short, pure psychological warfare. Here, there's expression of additional Al-Jazeera support – echoing these contents, sometimes in exchange for "exclusives," and employing terrorists on the network.

The "civilian" wing is responsible for distributing data regarding the population's condition and publishing statements to the media. One of its spokesmen was Abd al-Latif al-Qanua, considered close to Sinwar and eliminated in March. Additional spokesmen operate abroad within "Political Bureau" branches in Qatar, Turkey, and Algeria. For example, Basem Naim, Osama Hamdan, Mahmoud Mardawi, and Izzat al-Rishq.

Today, three spokesmen head the civilian wing in Gaza – Hazem Qasem, responsible for statements, Salama Maarouf, defined as head of the "governmental communications" office, and Ismail Thawabta, who manages the office. The latter two are responsible for publishing casualty data in the war – naturally, those that fit the narrative Hamas wants to broadcast. Beyond that, Maarouf served on the boards of Al-Risala publication and Al-Aqsa TV network.

The Iranian connection

Iran also sensed the opportunity. Dr. Michael Barak, a terrorism expert from Reichman University, told Israel Hayom about the involvement of a giant media conglomerate – IRTVU – which unites over 200 radio stations, news sites, and television channels. Some entities are identified with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq. The conglomerate, defined as the Revolutionary Guards' propaganda arm by the US, transferred training to Hamas media personnel in Beirut studios, including instruction in news program presentation.

Hezbollah supervised the process, with the model being the Al-Manar propaganda network. "During COVID, they did the training on Zoom," Dr. Barak said, "Hamas and Islamic Jihad members spoke with a Hezbollah representative, a Lebanese journalist named Safa Salmani. The Palestinian branch of IRTVU was established in 2017. This is essentially another Iranian foothold in Gaza in the 'public diplomacy' field."

The senior researcher reveals that the person responsible for Palestinian training in Lebanon was a Hezbollah figure named Nassar Akhdar. Since then, he has been appointed as IRTVU deputy secretary-general and a senior official in the Iranian axis. He recently accompanied Quds Force commander Ismail Qaani on his visit to Baghdad in July. About four months before the October 7 massacre, a delegation from Hamas' spokesperson apparatus arrived in Lebanon and met with Akhdar. There, the sides discussed mobilizing joint propaganda efforts against Israel.

In Gaza, the conglomerate's representative was Salah al-Masri, a journalist identified with Islamic Jihad. According to Dr. Barak, Hezbollah's training over the years included the following topics – how to counter the Israeli narrative, how to train social media influencers, how to train school children to produce their own content, and even how to try recruiting Israeli citizens for propaganda efforts. Akhdar, needless to say, defined the activity of Iranian axis media entities as "the first front in the campaign."

One of the Iranians' contacts in Hamas, responsible for "children's training," was someone we already mentioned – Salama Maarouf. Through the governmental communications office, he dictated content to the Palestinian education system aimed at explaining how to distribute propaganda content on networks.

Another body assisting the campaign is the organization "National Students for Justice in Palestine," operating on US campuses (National SJP). "They're connected to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in the US, and they also helped the starvation campaign. They distribute content on Instagram, TikTok, and additional platforms to pressure decision-makers at universities to sever ties with Israel. It's not just in the Middle East."

Doctors with borders

The echo chamber Hamas created in Gaza doesn't end here. Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra is the spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry. He's one of the most quoted information sources in Israeli and international media. Except Dr. al-Qudra isn't in the Strip at all. During the war, he left for Qatar, where he maintains direct contact with Hamas leadership. Al-Qudra indeed relies on information from Gaza health system personnel, but they, too, depend on Hamas.

In 2007, following Hamas' coup in Gaza, this health system underwent purges for all intents and purposes. The then-Health Minister in Hamas' government, Basem Naim, now sitting in Qatar, made sure to fire central hospital directors, remove approximately 600 doctors, and get rid of an unknown number of staff members. Unfortunately, they were "identified with Fatah," so they were replaced with terror movement loyalists. In other words, every senior figure in Gaza's health system depends on Hamas or belongs to it. Indeed, under the watchful eyes of Gaza hospital administrators, Israeli hostages were held, and some were even murdered by terrorists in those same centers. Moreover, those same complexes served Hamas as headquarters and hiding places, with underground tunnels dug in their vicinity.

Another factor to note is the spokesman for the "Civil Defense System," Mahmoud Basal. This refers to Hamas' rescue team mechanism, subordinate to Hamas senior Tawfiq Abu Naim. According to the IDF, the defense system spokesman was responsible in recent months for publishing fabricated data received by international media outlets. Furthermore, it was revealed that simultaneously, he operated as a Hamas terrorist. This is obviously the tip of the iceberg. Hamas' propaganda apparatus also extends across additional accounts in the digital arena, like GAZA NOW, and includes various influencers with millions of followers. While the mechanism swells daily, Israel has been leaving the arena almost empty for many long years.

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The broadcast climaxed with an actual explosion. IRIB IRINN serves the ayatollah regime but has hemorrhaged credibility within the republic, with ratings suffering lately. Monday afternoon, mid-propaganda monologue, a heavy bomb struck the presenter directly. Israeli Air Force ordnance found its target, sending the anchor scrambling from the studio. The feed remained active. Subsequently, they transmitted live footage of their facility engulfed in flames. A bloodied correspondent positioned himself at the building's entrance, vowing retaliation. Now that generates viewership, doesn't it?

The Israeli interview survival manual

During peacetime, ordinary citizens never find themselves broadcasting live to the nation. But when warfare invades our neighborhoods, anyone becomes a potential survivor interview candidate at strike locations.

Here's essential preparation before facing television reporters stationed outside your damaged residence, asking insensitively: What did you experience? What sounds did you hear? What did you witness? How did you escape?

What to wear? Anyone dashing to safe rooms in underwear, braless, shoeless, or sporting embarrassing threadbare clothing should reconsider. Would you want cameras capturing you after hastily evacuating your apartment when a reporter intercepts you among the debris with a helmet and intrusive questions?

Numerous missile survivors emerge in sleepwear, clutching pets or small children, hearts pounding and thoughts scattered. Precisely then, when microphones thrust toward spontaneous interviewees, peak performance becomes essential.

What to say? We heard tremendous booming. Serious trembling. Glass exploded everywhere. Descriptions typically echo each other. Some emphasize civic duty, stating "follow official guidance, remain in shelters," while others attempt elevated, dignified speech for television, and still others project casualness, relatability, or levity.

"I opened the door – no house remained. I declared, 'Hotel time now,'" quipped a Petah Tikva resident. "Look, we made the news," another celebrated, summoning neighbors to participate. Some choose brevity – delivering one statement before departing. Others weave in viral moments like "I survived needing the bathroom," or "blame the leftists."

How to behave? Standing out among countless interviewees requires showmanship. Consider inviting cameras for guided destruction tours. "Here's the devastation. This Rabbi Kanievsky photograph survived intact – divine protection," declared Monday's survivor.

Essentially, capturing attention means channeling Lihi Griner. When her apartment disintegrated from missile impact, the celebrity welcomed Channel 13 news crew for a property damage assessment. Within her limited airtime, the seasoned celebrity deployed every attention-grabbing technique available.

"Some cleanup happened, unfortunately, I could have staged quite a performance," she acknowledged while still delivering spectacle. She employed theatrical speech, heightened drama, and concluded with a bedroom presentation, "Notice my sleeping quarters. Glass everywhere. This punctured my mattress. Pure horror film. My neighbors died. Such audacity, what do Iranians want from civilians? What wrong did I commit against them?"

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As the United States prepares for its first presidential election in the age of generative AI, fears are growing about the potential impact of deepfakes and AI-generated content on voter perceptions. Recent incidents involving fabricated images of candidates and foreign disinformation efforts have underscored the challenges to electoral integrity in this new technological landscape.

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helena in the southeastern United States two weeks ago left a trail of haunting images, but two pictures are likely to linger in the public consciousness more than any others. One depicted former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump in the disaster zone, standing knee-deep in floodwaters alongside rescue workers.

If you look carefully, you can see that this image is AI generated from the distorted hand and the fact that Donald Trump is helping someone other than himself. H/T https://t.co/QNKB4Y3Uyc pic.twitter.com/KWTK2wa3wR

— Simon Chesterman 陈西文 (@ProfChesterman) October 10, 2024

The other showed a small, weeping girl alone in a fragile wooden boat, clutching a tiny puppy. For many in the affected areas, the stark contrast between these images reinforced a sense that the current administration had forsaken them. Trump's picture was widely shared with the caption "hero," while the girl's image was accompanied by comments like "The administration has let us down again." There was just one snag with these powerful images: both were complete fabrications churned out by a rudimentary AI generator.

One surefire way to spot an AI image from the hurricane is if it shows Donald Trump helping people. @jordanklepper pic.twitter.com/THb6BaXtg1

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 9, 2024

This marks the first US election unfolding in the era of generative AI (GenAI). Text and image generators like ChatGPT and Midjourney produce content on demand, setting them apart from any previous forgery technology. They can create images that challenge human perception and are accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

The list of AI-related electoral incidents is already growing. In August, Trump shared a series of images showing Taylor Swift fans wearing "Swifties for Trump" shirts, unaware they were AI-generated. This may have prompted the pop star to publicly back his rival, Harris. In an apparently unrelated development, at least one genuine image of a "Swiftie" supporting the Republican candidate surfaced after the incident. Later, Trump shared a photo purporting to show that the crowds at Harris's campaign rallies were "created using AI." An independent fact-check revealed the photo was, in fact, authentic.

(AI) Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris, Challenges Trump's AI Deepfake

Following the first presidential debate, Taylor Swift took to Instagram to endorse Kamala Harris, explicitly calling out Donald Trump for sharing AI-generated deepfake images suggesting her support for him.… pic.twitter.com/ulxl3KfjeX

— tech guru (@technologiaguru) September 18, 2024

Conversely, allegations of AI manipulation have become a convenient excuse for some politicians. Georgia's lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, attempted to dismiss an exposé of his past controversial statements by claiming it was "AI forgery." Ironically, this led to the broadcast of a campaign ad against Robinson that was itself entirely generated by AI – a first in political advertising.

Is there a technological fix for these forgeries? Israeli firm Revealense has developed AI-powered technology to detect hidden emotions in videos, which can also identify deepfakes. However, Amit Cohen, a VP at the company, tells Israel Hayom that the battle may already be lost when it comes to AI-generated still images. "Given their quality, there's no technological capability to identify a fake image in real-time based on pixel analysis," he explains. "The real challenge lies in videos and deepfakes, which can cause significant damage during sensitive periods like elections. Currently, this capability is primarily in the hands of state actors."

Indeed, US intelligence agencies have sounded the alarm that Russia, Iran, and China will leverage GenAI to undermine electoral integrity. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has also advised avoiding AI-related scams before and during Election Day.

A month ago, Microsoft unveiled evidence that Russian trolls linked to the Kremlin had disseminated two deepfake videos, garnering millions of views, aimed at undermining Harris's campaign. This came even as Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly expressed a preference for the Democratic candidate. One video featured a young woman in a wheelchair recounting a hit-and-run accident allegedly involving Harris in 2011. Fact-checkers discovered that the accident report came from a non-existent TV station, whose website was hastily created just before the fake video's distribution. The supposed victim was revealed to be an actress who was paid for the performance. "Russian actors will ramp up their efforts to spread divisive political content, staged videos, and AI propaganda," Microsoft cautioned.

Chinese operatives are also distributing fabricated video content, aiming to sow division and erode trust in the democratic process. Microsoft's cybersecurity team identified a Beijing-linked hacker group that disseminated anti-Biden administration and anti-Harris campaign videos before vanishing from the web. Groups associated with China are spreading content designed to damage both political camps, masquerading as Trump supporters and progressive organizations alike.

Ultimately, it's unclear whether AI-generated content will significantly sway voter decisions. Mainstream media outlets across the political spectrum have largely refrained from amplifying these fakes. On social media platforms, there are typically enough savvy users to flag suspicious images and neutralize their impact. Nevertheless, in an era of ubiquitous networks and sophisticated fakes, vigilance is paramount. "My advice is to always approach images on social networks with skepticism and verify the source," Cohen concludes.

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The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that federal prosecutors have dismantled a Russian-operated "bot farm" consisting of hundreds of AI-generated fake social media accounts. These accounts were used to spread lies and pro-Vladimir Putin disinformation in the United States and abroad, according to USA Today reporting.

Many of the electronically-created bots featured pictures of smiling, clean-cut individuals purporting to be Americans with names like "Sue Williamson" and "Ricardo Abbott." These fake personas allegedly took to social media sites such as X to praise Putin's supposed generosity and virtues.

If ever you want to recognise the Putin Bots just try looking for the block option. It's never there. They all make the most absurd allegations in defence of Putin's murderous conduct.

— Joburg lawyer (@joburglawyer) July 10, 2024

 Disinformation experts and US officials hailed the crackdown as the first of its kind against state-sponsored AI-powered propaganda. The action comes at a critical juncture in Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion and ahead of the US presidential election in November.

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the significance of the operation, stating, "Today's actions represent a first. Russia intended to use this bot farm to disseminate AI-generated foreign disinformation, scaling their work with the assistance of AI to undermine our partners in Ukraine and influence geopolitical narratives favorable to the Russian government."

According to US court documents, Russia's Federal Security Service orchestrated the operation from 2022 through 2024, creating nearly 1,000 X accounts and two websites. The FBI, in collaboration with US Cyber Command and partners from the Netherlands and Canada, led the takedown of the Russian operation. X suspended the 968 accounts for violating terms of service.

Acting on warrants issued by a federal judge, the FBI seized the X accounts and websites after suspicions were raised about international money laundering and conspiracy. Affidavits filed in the District of Arizona, where the websites were registered, detail the legal basis for the action.

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As reports circulated Thursday of Russian troops on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, a Moscow-based journalist denied that a military invasion was taking place in a shocking interview with i24NEWS that seemed to contradict the facts on the ground.

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"There has not been any proof of troops going into Ukraine," journalist Tatiana Kukhareva said to anchor Jeff Smith.

She said that the "operation cannot be classified as an invasion because there are no troops on the ground," toeing the Russian's government line that only military infrastructure was being targeted in precision strikes.

Smith pressed Kukhareva on why she said it is not an invasion, saying that she "can't be serious."

She fired back by asking Smith if he knew the definition of an invasion, with Smith saying that he wasn't playing games.

Smith continued to press the journalist to explain her stance.

Kukhareva again repeated that no proof has been provided of Russian troops in Ukraine.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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With vaccination against COVID-19 in full swing, social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter say they've stepped up their fight against misinformation that aims to undermine trust in the vaccines. But problems abound.

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For years, the same platforms have allowed anti-vaccination propaganda to flourish, making it difficult to stamp out such sentiments now. And their efforts to weed out other types of COVID-19 misinformation – often with fact-checks, informational labels and other restrained measures, has been woefully slow.

Twitter, for instance, announced this month that it will remove dangerous falsehoods about vaccines, much the same way it's done for other COVID-related conspiracy theories and misinformation. But since April 2020, it has removed a grand total of 8,400 tweets spreading COVID-related misinformation – a tiny fraction of the avalanche of pandemic-related falsehoods tweeted out daily by popular users with millions of followers, critics say.

"While they fail to take action, lives are being lost," said Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a watchdog group. In December, the nonprofit found that 59 million accounts across social platforms follow peddlers of anti-vax propaganda – many of whom are immensely popular super-spreaders of misinformation.

Efforts to crack down on vaccine misinformation now, though, are generating cries of censorship and prompting some posters to adopt sneaky tactics to avoid the axe.

"It's a hard situation because we have let this go for so long," said Jeanine Guidry, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies social media and health information. "People using social media have really been able to share what they want for nearly a decade."

The Associated Press identified more than a dozen Facebook pages and Instagram accounts, collectively boasting millions of followers, that have made false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine or discouraged people from taking it. Some of these pages have existed for years.

Of more than 15 pages identified by NewsGuard, a technology company that analyzes the credibility of websites, roughly half remain active on Facebook, the AP found.

One such page, The Truth About Cancer, has more than a million Facebook followers after years of posting baseless suggestions that vaccines could cause autism or damage children's brains. The page was identified in November as a "COVID-19 vaccine misinformation super spreader" by NewsGuard.

Recently, the page stopped posting about vaccines and the coronavirus. It now directs people to sign up for its newsletter and visit its website as a way to avoid alleged "censorship."

Facebook said it is taking "aggressive steps to fight misinformation across our apps by removing millions of pieces of COVID-19 and vaccine content on Facebook and Instagram during the pandemic."

"Research shows one of the best ways to promote vaccine acceptance is by showing people accurate, trusted information, which is why we've connected 2 billion people to resources from heath authorities and launched a global information campaign," the company said in a statement.

Facebook also banned ads that discourage vaccines and said it has added warning labels to more than 167 million pieces of additional COVID-19 content thanks to our network of fact-checking partners. (The Associated Press is one of Facebook's fact-checking partners).

YouTube, which has generally avoided the same type scrutiny as its social media peers despite being a source of misinformation, said it has removed more than 30,000 videos since October, when it started banning false claims about COVID-19 vaccinations. Since February 2020, it has removed over 800,000 videos related to dangerous or misleading coronavirus information, said YouTube spokeswoman Elena Hernandez.

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Prior to the pandemic, however, social media platforms had done little to stamp out misinformation, said Andy Pattison, manager of digital solutions for the World Health Organization. In 2019, as a measles outbreak slammed the Pacific Northwest and left dozens dead in America Samoa, Pattison pleaded with big tech companies to take a closer look at tightening rules around vaccine misinformation that he feared might make the outbreak worse – to no avail.

It wasn't until COVID-19 struck with a vengeance that many of those tech companies started listening. Now he meets weekly with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to discuss trends on their platforms and policies to consider.

"When it comes to vaccine misinformation, the really frustrating thing is that this has been around for years," Pattison said.

The targets of such crackdowns are often quick to adapt. Some accounts use intentionally misspelled words – like "vackseen" or "v@x" – to avoid bans. (Social platforms say they're wise to this.) Other pages use more subtle messaging, images or memes to suggest that vaccines are unsafe or even deadly.

"When you die after the vaccine, you die of everything but the vaccine," read one meme on an Instagram account with more than 65,000 followers. The post suggested that the government is concealing deaths from the COVID-19 vaccine.

"It's a very fine line between freedom of speech and eroding science," Pattison said. Purveyors of misinformation, he said, "learn the rules, and they dance right on the edge, all the time."

Twitter said it is continuously reviewing its rules in the context of COVID-19 and changes them based on guidance from experts. Earlier this month, it added a strikes policy that threatens repeat spreaders of coronavirus and vaccine misinformation with bans.

But blatantly false COVID-19 information continues to pop up. Earlier this month, several articles circulating online claimed that more elderly Israelis who took the Pfizer vaccine were "killed" by the shot than those who died from COVID-19 itself. One such article from an anti-vaccination website was shared nearly 12,000 times on Facebook, leading earlier this month to a spike of nearly 40,000 mentions of "vaccine deaths" across social platforms and the internet, according to an analysis by media intelligence firm Zignal Labs.

Medical experts point to a real-world study showing a strong correlation between vaccination and decreases in severe COVID-19 disease in Israel, whose Health Ministry said in a Thursday statement that the COVID-19 vaccine has "profoundly" reduced the rate of deaths and hospitalizations.

As US vaccine supplies continue to increase, immunization efforts will soon shift from targeting a limited supply to the most vulnerable populations to getting as many shots into as many arms as possible. That means tackling the third of the country's population who say they will not or probably won't get it, as measured by a February AP-NORC poll.

"Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation could be a big barrier to getting enough of the population vaccinated to end the crisis," said Lisa Fazio, a professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University.

Some health officials and academics generally believe that the social-platform efforts are helpful, at least on the margins. What's not clear is how big of a dent they can put in the problem.

"If someone truly believes that the COVID vaccine is harmful and they feel a responsibility to share that with friends and family ... they will find a way," Guidry said.

And some still blame business models that they say encouraged the platforms to serve up engaging, if false, coronavirus misinformation in order to profit from advertising.

When the Center for Countering Digital Hate recently studied the crossover between different types of disinformation and hate speech, it found that Instagram tended to cross-pollinate misinformation via its algorithm. Instagram might feed an account that followed a QAnon conspiracy site further posts from, say, white nationalists or anti-vaxxers.

"You continue to allow things to disintegrate because of the seamless intermingling of misinformation and information on your platforms," Ahmed, the center's CEO, said.

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The officials said the operation took place in late September and took aim at Tehran's ability to spread "propaganda."

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One of the officials said the strike affected physical hardware, but did not provide further details.

It highlights how US President Donald Trump's administration has been trying to counter what it sees as Iranian aggression without spiraling into a broader conflict.

The strike appears more limited than other such operations against Iran this year after the downing of an American drone in June and an alleged attack by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on oil tankers in the Gulf in May.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France, and Germany have publicly blamed the Sept. 14 attack on Iran, which denied involvement in the strike. The Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility.

Publicly, the Pentagon has responded by sending thousands of additional troops and equipment to bolster Saudi defenses – the latest US deployment to the region this year.

The Pentagon declined to comment about the cyber strike.

"As a matter of policy and for operational security, we do not discuss cyberspace operations, intelligence, or planning," said Pentagon spokeswoman Elissa Smith.

The impact of the attack, if any, could take months to determine, but cyber strikes are seen as a less-provocative option below the threshold of war.

"You can do damage without killing people or blowing things up; it adds an option to the toolkit that we didn't have before and our willingness to use it is important," said James Lewis, a cyber expert with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Lewis added that it may not be possible to deter Iranian behavior with even conventional military strikes.

Tensions in the Gulf have escalated sharply since May 2018, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Tehran that put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions.

It was unclear whether there have been other US cyberattacks since the one in late September.

Iran has used such tactics against the United States. This month, a hacking group that appears linked to the Iranian government tried to infiltrate email accounts related to Trump's re-election campaign.

Over 30 days in August and September, the group, which Microsoft dubbed "Phosphorous," made more than 2,700 attempts to identify consumer accounts, then attacked 241 of them.

Tehran is also thought to be a major player in spreading disinformation.

Last year a Reuters investigation found more than 70 websites that push Iranian propaganda to 15 countries, in an operation that cybersecurity experts, social media firms and journalists are only starting to uncover.

Tensions with Iran have been high since the Sept. 14 attack. Tehran has claimed that an Iranian tanker was hit by rockets in the Red Sea last week and warned on Monday that there would be consequences.

At a news conference on Monday, President Hassan Rouhani reiterated his country's policy toward the Trump administration, ruling out bilateral talks unless Washington returns to the landmark nuclear deal and lifts crippling US economic sanctions.

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Many attribute that victory to the blitz of interviews Netanyahu gave on Election Day, as well as the unforgettable warning that "the Arabs are flocking to the polls." In 2019, Netanyahu did it again and closed the lead polls had predicted that Blue and White would keep over the Likud – this time, by broadcasting a live feed on his Facebook page.

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But this time, Netanyahu won't be alone. The other parties learned their lessons and intend to fire back on Election Day, but they mean to focus not on the rivalry between blocs, but on internal strife within the bloc.

While Likud and Blue and White will try to collect as many seats as possible at the expense of the other parties in their respective blocs, the smaller parties will take advantage of the final day to drive home the message that it isn't the size of the party that matters, but the size of the bloc.

According to one Likud official, "In general, the Likud doesn't comment on its campaign, and the plan for the final stretch is under wraps and known to only a few very workers at the campaign headquarters, who have signed secrecy agreements."

However, we do know that the Likud will be investing millions, mostly in identifying clusters of potential – a process of data analysis that has been underway for two months already. The Likud will be integrating figures from the field with information from social media and cellular phones in an attempt to deploy targeted ads at specific sectors.

We also know that because of the battle with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, heavy resources will be invested in bastions of Yisrael Beytenu voters, including hostels and retirement homes, including free rides to the polls on Election Day.

Blue and White

Blue and White is also getting reading for the election by using technology to identify potential voters, as well as a targeted campaign that will call on members of the left-wing camp to support the biggest center-left party, one that is capable of posing a challenge to the Likud government.

Last time, Blue and White attracted the support of many left-wingers, prompting them to abandon satellite parties like Meretz and Labor. This time, Blue and White will try to recreate their April success, but it comes after the rest of the left-wing parties already learned their lesson and are getting ready for a final Election Day push.

Blue and White campaign staffers have set up 200 headquarters nationwide to coordinate fieldwork. On Election Day, a Blue and White-branded bus will travel to various areas. Party activists will be assigned to 9,300 polling places to observe the voting and ballot count.

The Blue and White election office has divided the country into 26 zones, each of which is assigned to a Blue and White MK. A special "situation room" will be in operation from 6 a.m., with legal counsel, logistics coordinators, and computer techs.

The HQ will keep tabs on which voters have and have not voted, thanks to technology that will send the information to special staff who will spend the day calling potential voters.

The Democratic Union

The Democratic Union (the joint list comprising Meretz, the Israel Democratic Party, the Green Movement), for example, intends to run a scare campaign, not about the possibility of the party disappearing because it might fail to make it over the minimum electoral threshold, but about the possibility that "Israeli democracy might be obliterated."

Party leaders will speak out against Netanyahu and the Likud and accuse Blue and White of intending to join a Netanyahu-led government after the election.

The joint party plans to use technological means to find potential voters, all from the left-wing camp, and drive home the message that any party that does not declare that it will work to replace the Netanyahu government is not a viable option.

Labor-Gesher

In recent weeks, the Labor party has set up a special office to create a campaign for the last week of the election, as well as a special headquarters for Election Day itself. Labor party officials say that the last-stage campaign will include a surprise that will "shake up" politics – especially Blue and White. According to the officials, the campaign will keep Labor votes from migrating to Blue and White, and will also cause potential Blue and White voters to vote for Amir Peretz.

In addition to a special Election Day HQ, the party will be sending volunteers to knock on doors in strategic areas identified ahead of time to convince left-wing voters, as well as residents of the periphery, to throw their support behind Amir Peretz and Orly Levy-Abekasis. Labor officials are also saying that one of the sectors they will be focusing on is former supporters of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party. The party says that this is the largest field operations program it has ever organized and that millions of shekels were invested in its activities.

Yamina 

Yamina (formerly the United Right, the joint list of Habayit Hayehudi, the National Union-Tkuma, and the New Right) is also gearing up to fire back at the Likud's last-minute efforts at scaring voters. The list plans to station about 1,000 volunteers at polling places to give the party visibility. The list will make use of existing databases from its constituent parties. Yamina is planning a campaign of phone calls to urge supporters to go out and vote.

To thwart any attempt by Netanyahu to siphon off votes on Election Day, Yamina does not plan to wait until the last minute and is already planning to convince voters that the size of the bloc, not the party, will be the deciding factor in the election.

Yamina leader Ayelet Shaked said, "This time, Netanyahu is starting to try and siphon off votes from the [other] right-wing parties early, and that allows us to make our voters able to withstand the intense messages that will flood in on Election Day, and realize that the size of the bloc, not the biggest party, is what will decide."

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The House of Representatives passed the resolution by a 398-17 margin on Tuesday, rejecting the boycott movement and its efforts to target US companies that do business with Israel.

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The BDS movement promotes boycotts, divestment and sanctions of Israeli institutions and businesses. Israel says the campaign masks a deeper goal of delegitimizing and even destroying the country.

Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan, who leads Israel's efforts against BDS, called the resolution an "important achievement" and a powerful show of bipartisan support for Israel.

"We will work to implement this decision and turn it into practical policy against the efforts of the boycott campaign," he said.

The BDS movement said the resolution is "based on lies and aims to demonize powerful resistance to Israel's military occupation and apartheid."

The boycott movement's economic impact on Israel has been minimal, but it has enjoyed stronger success in the entertainment and academic worlds, gaining significant support on US college campuses.

Israel and its allies, however, have succeeded in promoting legislation in US states and elsewhere against BDS. In May, for instance, German lawmakers passed a resolution that denounced the boycott movement and described its methods as anti-Semitic – a charge that BDS activists vehemently deny.

Omar Barghouti, a founder of the boycott movement, said it has a "zero-tolerance policy" against all formats of discrimination, including anti-Semitism. He said this week's House resolution "reinforces other McCarthyite anti-BDS laws, and will have a chilling effect on free speech."

Critics accuse Israel of making unfair accusations of anti-Semitism to stifle legitimate debate over Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, a grassroots group in the West Bank that tries to "raise awareness" and mobilize support for the Palestinians on social media, said the US resolution is "the latest attempt to shut down the space for Palestinians to advocate for their freedom and rights." The group said it is not part of the BDS movement, but defended the right to call for boycotts.

"By restricting the right to boycott as a form of protest, it aims to delegitimize calls for justice and accountability on Israel," it said.

For over a year, Israel has been working to expel the local director of the international group Human Rights Watch, Omar Shakir, accusing him of promoting boycotts.

The group says that neither it nor Shakir, in his position at Human Rights Watch, has called for a boycott of Israel. It says Shakir, who is a US citizen, is being targeted for the group's opposition to Israel's settlements and its calls for companies to stop working with the settlements.

The deportation issue had been scheduled to go before Israel's Supreme Court this week, but was postponed on Wednesday until September.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said he hopes Israel will use the delay to "reassess" its position.

"Everybody recognizes that what's really at stake here is the ability to engage in human rights advocacy," he said.

He said countries that have tried to bar Human Rights Watch researchers are a "pretty unsavory group" that includes North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Cuba and Venezuela.

"Does Israel really want to join a club like that?" he said. "I don't think so."

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