Following the attack, airport authorities in Kelowna confirmed the breach, stating that a third party had accessed both the flight information display screens and public address system. A spokesperson for Victoria International Airport said that only the airport’s public address system had been affected by a breach. Transport Canada said it was aware of those hacks, along with another incident at Windsor International Airport. Authorities in Harrisburg confirmed that the incident is being investigated by local, state, and federal officials.
The breaches come as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage exchange. The military group freed the last 20 remaining Israeli hostages on Monday in return for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under a deal brokered by the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. On Tuesday, Hamas began transferring the remains of the hostages killed during captivity, with seven bodies returned via the Red Cross.
Pro-Palestinian protests and anti-Israel incidents have been on the rise across Western countries since West Jerusalem launched its military operation against Hamas following the October 7 attack that saw some 1,200 people killed and 250 others taken hostage. The IDF’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground offensive in Gaza have claimed more than 68,000 lives and left upwards of 170,000 wounded, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
The incident has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with one Twitter user claiming that Canada is a security threat to the world. The breach highlights the escalating tensions in the region, as well as the potential for cyber warfare to disrupt critical infrastructure.