Al Jazeera sparks outrage after publishing names and photos of 30,000 Israeli Air Force members linked to Gaza operations, potentially endangering their lives.
A dangerous propaganda stunt by Qatar’s Al Jazeera network has drawn fierce condemnation after its “investigative program” The Hidden Is More Immense broadcast what it claimed to be a “leaked document” containing personal information and photos of over 30,000 Israeli Air Force personnel allegedly involved in operations over Gaza.
The so-called leak, published Monday, included names, photographs, and service details of IDF pilots and aircrew, purportedly sourced from social media and presented as part of an exposé on “war crimes.” The episode prominently referenced the Brazil-based Hind Rajib Foundation, an organization attempting to pursue legal action against Israeli soldiers abroad, a campaign Israeli analysts described as a new front in lawfare targeting Israel’s defenders.
Cybersecurity experts quickly raised alarms that Al Jazeera’s broadcast may have recycled data from an earlier breach, first reported three years ago, when a hacker collective known as “Leak the Analyst” published a similar dataset on the darknet.
At the time, the Varonis cybersecurity firm verified that some of the leaked names matched active IAF personnel, warning that the database might have originated from a civilian marketing company or aviation sector vendor — not a military system. Cross-referencing social media activity, however, revealed overlaps with serving Air Force members, confirming a significant security exposure.
By reviving and amplifying this data on a Qatari state-funded network, analysts say Al Jazeera is knowingly endangering Israeli servicemen and women — effectively aiding terrorist and hostile entities seeking retribution against the IDF.
“This isn’t journalism — it’s targeted incitement,” said one former Israeli cyber-intelligence official. “Publishing soldiers’ personal details in wartime crosses every ethical and legal boundary.”
The IAF and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate are now investigating whether the broadcast involved any new data breaches or simply repurposed existing material for political exploitation.
Observers note that Al Jazeera — long accused of serving as a propaganda arm for Hamas and Qatar’s Islamist agenda — has once again weaponized media under the guise of “investigation,” using sensitive data to delegitimize and endanger those defending the Jewish state.
