Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2014/07/15/hamas_hack_israeli_sat_tv/

Hamas hacks Israeli TV sat channel to broadcast pics of Gaza wounded

Tells viewers: 'Prepare yourself for an extended stay in shelters'

By John Leyden

Posted in Security, 15th July 2014 18:15 GMT

Gaza leaders Hamas took over an Israeli satellite channel for few minutes on Monday to broadcast pictures of Gaza wounded.

Viewers who tuned into Israeli Channel 10 reported seeing images of people wounded from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as well as propaganda messages promising more rocket strikes on Israel from Hamas' military wing.

The pictures of wounded were accompanied by a commitment to retaliate by Palestinian militants: "Your government chose the opening hour of this campaign. If your government does not agree to our terms, then prepare yourself for an extended stay in shelters.”

Israeli broadcast authorities said that Hamas was able to take over a satellite feed supplying Channel 10. Terrestrial broadcasts were not affected, so viewers watching the station using digital converters did not see the messages, according to Israeli media reports.

Hamas has hijacked TV broadcasts before. It took over Channel 10 and Channel 2 during Operation Pillar of Defense, a week-long Israeli armed forces operation in Hamas-governed Gaza Strip two years ago that was justified as an attempt to stop rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.

These propaganda efforts are far from a one-way street. Israeli military forces reportedly hacked into a Hamas-run TV station to broadcast propaganda back in 2009, for example.

Audiences were treated to clips featuring the gunning down of Hamas leadership, accompanied by a message in Arabic: "Time is running out". ®