Desalination Plants South of Hadera Shut Down Due to Weather, Not Cyberattack

All desalination plants located south of Hadera in Israel have been shut down, according to sources. The shutdown is attributed to unusual weather patterns affecting the quality of Mediterranean seawater, leading to the suspension of operations. This comes after a morning of unexpected rainfall in central Israel, particularly in the Gush Dan area, which followed expectations of broader rain the previous day that did not materialize.

Industry sources have clarified that the shutdown is not the result of a cyberattack. This statement follows earlier concerns raised at the beginning of the month by Israel's National Cyber Directorate regarding potential Iranian attempts to disrupt the country's water infrastructure. Reports from the United States indicated that at least seven countries had been targeted in a cyberattack attributed to Iran.

The National Cyber Directorate had previously warned that Israel experiences daily cyberattacks across various sectors and acknowledged numerous Iranian attempts to target its water sector over the years. However, they stated that they, along with international partners, have successfully prevented significant damage to the cyber domain.

Mekorot, the national water company, and the Water Authority have not yet issued official statements regarding the incident.