Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich confirms WhatsApp hack

Yonatan Urich, a senior aide and personal media adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has confirmed that his WhatsApp account was hacked. Urich announced via X that he intends to pursue legal action against those responsible for the breach and anyone who distributes the leaked private correspondence, noting that republishing illegally obtained content is a criminal offense under Israeli privacy law.

The leaked messages, which have been verified by Haaretz, reveal close communications between Urich and prominent media figures, including Amit Segal, the chief political analyst for Channel 12 News. The exchanges include strategic advice regarding campaign messaging and video content, as well as the sharing of planned speeches for the Prime Minister.

Reports suggest the vulnerability may have stemmed from an AI-driven media-monitoring service linked to an external provider in the United Arab Emirates. This service, used to track mentions of the Netanyahu family, reportedly provided access to messages without encryption. The hack occurs amid broader efforts to destabilize the Prime Minister's administration and coincides with ongoing investigations into potential corruption involving Qatari-linked individuals.