And with no risk of being tracked by Israeli intelligence, Hezbollah saw the device as the ultimate communication tool for their needs. The pagers' most sinister feature was a two-step de-encryption procedure that ensured most users would be holding the pager with both hands when it detonated. Israel came up with the pager idea in 2022, and parts of the plan began falling into place more than a year before Hamas's October 7 attack, The Washington Post reported . Because Hezbollah leaders were alert to possible sabotage, the pagers could not originate in Israel, the US or any other Israeli ally. The Taiwanese company had no knowledge of the plan, officials said, according to The Washington Post article.

Source: The Nation October 06, 2024 19:31 UTC