Title: Families Desperate for Answers as 220 Individuals Remain Hostage in Gaza
Subtitle: Cyber Experts Step in to Aid in the Search for Missing Loved Ones
Date: October 26, 2023
By Pierre Herubel
In a distressing turn of events, Hamas militants in Gaza have taken 220 individuals hostage, leaving their families in a state of despair and longing for any signs of hope. The ordeal began on October 7 when Hamas militants forcibly breached the Gaza border, causing chaos and abducting men, women, and children.
One family caught in this nightmare is the Polin-Goldberg family. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old dual Israeli-American citizen, was among those who went missing. His father, Jonathan Polin, received two heart-wrenching WhatsApp messages from Hersh just before the chaos unfolded, saying “I love you” and “I’m sorry.” Upon returning home from the local synagogue, Jonathan discovered these haunting messages and initially believed that Hersh was on a camping trip. It was later revealed that Hersh had attended the Supernova trance music festival, where tragedy struck.
As families anxiously await any news, many have turned to social media for answers. However, most of the documentation and information about the attack originated from within Israel, leaving families uncertain about the fate of their loved ones once they crossed into Gaza.
One glimmer of hope for these families is the tracing of phone pings. Scott Greene, a digital forensics expert, attests to the reliability of triangulation, a method that uses the signals emitted by mobile devices to determine their location. When Israeli authorities do not provide triangulation data, desperate families turn to the find-my-phone features offered by iPhones and Androids. By obtaining the password to the devices, they can request the phone to report its location, providing some reassurance regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones.
However, it is important to note that phone pings are not conclusive proof of life as phones can be separated from their owners and may provide inaccurate data. Tragically, there have been cases where the phone’s signal led to Gaza, only for the individual’s body to be discovered within Israel.
In the midst of this agonizing uncertainty, volunteer cyber experts, including surveillance companies NSO Group and Candiru, have offered their assistance. These professionals, such as Omri Segev Moyal, CEO of Israeli cybersecurity firm Profero, utilize their knowledge to help families locate their missing loved ones. While the exact methods used by these experts are closely guarded secrets to avoid endangering the hostages, they work tirelessly to reunite families.
As the world anxiously awaits news of the hostages, the families affected continue to hold on to hope that their loved ones will be brought back safely. Tech Times will keep you updated on any developments.
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Tags: Hamas, Gaza, Hostages, Families, Phone Pings, Triangulation, Cyber Experts, NSO Group, Candiru.
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