Text messages were sent to Israelis with their names and addresses with a threatening message: "You will be buried by next week," police confirmed on Saturday.
Police said that "these are false messages, which only have the purpose of inciting panic in the public during wartime." The police, the Communications Ministry, and the National Cyber Headquarters blocked the accounts that sent the texts and launched an investigation to find out who was behind sending the messages.
"We call on the public not to reply to these messages, to ignore them, and if possible, to block the number from which the message was sent," Ynet quoted the police as saying. "A chain of messages of this kind constitutes a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment. We will deal with any person who takes part in such inciting activity or sowing panic in the public during the war."
One individual who received one of these messages told Ynet that she "was shocked. I looked again and I couldn't believe or understand what I was reading," she said. "I don't know anyone who hates me, I've never encountered anything like this. I'm 67 years old, working, with a family, a normal woman - and in shock. I'm afraid that these are threats sent as part of the national threat we're under now. It's really anxiety-driven."
Not the first time Israelis received anonymous threatening text messages
Another Ynet report from last month saw dozens of Israelis working in media receiving calls from a group identifying as "Anonymous for Justice" and speaking with heavy Persian accents.
Since then, WhatsApp and Telegram messages have also been sent to the same individuals. "We hacked into the Israeli Ministry of Defense and published some of its most secret documents," Ynet quoted the group. "Send our message to your government officials: 'If you don't stop the war and killing of oppressed Palestinian children, you will face dangerous times.' Take our warning seriously. We are not kidding with anyone."
A Police spokeswoman said "In the last few hours we have witnessed reports about many citizens receiving messages as detailed in the photo. These are false messages intended to cause panic in the public during wartime.
"The police and the National Cyber Headquarters handle locating and blocking the source of the messages. We call on the public not to reply to these messages, to ignore them as planned and, if possible, to block the number from which the message was sent.
"The Israel Police will use all the tools at its disposal to enforce the law that prohibits the distribution and chaining of messages of this type, which constitute a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment, and will deal with any party that takes part in inciting activity or sowing panic in the public during wartime."