Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday during a visit to Iran, raising serious concerns about the potential for a wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran and the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas have pointed fingers at Israel, accusing them of carrying out the strike.
Adding to the escalating tensions, conspiracy theories have emerged online, with some alleging that Haniyeh’s assassination was facilitated by WhatsApp. These theories claim that Israeli intelligence used the messaging app to install spyware on Haniyeh’s phone, subsequently tracking his location and allowing for a drone strike.
One social media user stated, “Jewish billionaire Yan Borysovych Koum has been linked to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Using his company WhatsApp, Israeli intelligence installed spyware on Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s phone via a WhatsApp message. The exact location of Ismail Haniyeh was then given and IDF used a drone to launch a missile strike.”
While these accusations are circulating widely, their validity remains uncertain. It is crucial to emphasize that WhatsApp has faced intermittent bans and restrictions in Iran, raising questions about the feasibility of using the app for such a complex operation.
The assassination of Haniyeh, a significant figure in the Hamas leadership, has deeply impacted the political landscape in the Middle East. The incident has ignited calls for retaliation and has heightened existing tensions between Israel, Iran, and various Palestinian factions. As the situation unfolds, the international community faces the challenge of preventing the conflict from escalating further.
