Iranian hacker group Handala claimed it breached former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's mobile phone in an operation dubbed "Operation Octopus", Israeli and Iranian media reported on December 17.

The cold war between Israel and Iran has continued after Donald Trump forced both countries into a peace deal earlier this year after 12 days of conflict. This latest show of force from Tehran comes as Iranian officials have become increasingly vocal in recent days about further negotiations with the Trump White House, including recent comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian who said he would not negotiate under duress. 

Iranian authorities have not claimed responsibility for the group, but this latest potential hack comes after several others in recent years by both countries targeting key people and assets. 

The group published what it claimed were contact lists, correspondence, images, and political documents from Bennett's iPhone 13, the Iranian Hamshahri newspaper reported.

Handala, named after a character by Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, mocked the former prime minister for previously claiming expertise in cybersecurity.

"You once boasted of being a beacon of cybersecurity and presented your expertise to the world. And yet, how ironic that your iPhone 13 fell so easily into the hands of Handala," the hackers wrote, according to Ynet.

The group said Bennett's "digital fortress was nothing more than a paper wall waiting to be breached".

Reports indicated an Iranian name and Rafael Grossi's name appeared among phone numbers in the device.

Bennett's office initially said the matter was being handled by security and cyber authorities, and the device was not currently in use.

The former prime minister later denied that the breach occurred, despite videos and audio being released by the Handala group on social media platforms, including recordings of him discussing foreign trips.

Handala responded by releasing 1,900 documents, insisting that Bennett's denial was false, and included the names of Iranian opposition figures and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to Iranian state media IRNA.

"Naftali Bennett publicly denied any breach and insists his mobile phone was never hacked. But the truth speaks for itself," the group said, according to Mehr News Agency.

The hackers invited observers to review the disclosed conversations and judge who was telling the truth.

The Shin Bet is examining the claims, with uncertainty about whether Bennett's phone was actually breached or whether a different device containing information about him was hacked.

"You often spoke about the 'octopus,' painted it as your enemy, and imagined you could cut off its arms and be safe. But today know this: the octopus is not just watching, you are already caught in its grip," Handala told Bennett.