The ‘E-Detonation’ Genie Released by Israel -Gp Capt TP Srivastava

Date:-05 September 2026

" The world is slowly but surely moving towards adopting AI , virtually in all spheres of our lives. It is an established fact that every technology evolution is double edged sword. Splitting of atom is the finest example. Nuclear energy lights up our homes, provides advance treatment but also is weapon of mass destruction.

Radical change that has taken place is in the area of silent warfare. No more exploding bombs, gun fire, missile attacks et all. A country having the ability to invade the supply chain of electronic gadgets can introduce embedded chips which can be activated at will from remote locations.

Israel, as always, has perhaps taken the lead. Pasted below is a brief write up on what e DETONATION can do/has already done."-- Gp Capt TP Srivastava

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“Israeli intelligence agency SHIN BET had placed Yahya Ayaash at the top of their most wanted list. On 5th January, 1996 Yahya Ayaash, a PLO Bomb expert while travelling in a bus called his father from a Motorola phone. When his father picked the call Ayaash said ‘how are you father’. These were last words of Ayaash. The phone exploded literally in his face. He was killed. Motorola phone was gifted to Ayaash by his university friend Osama Harnad. Osama’s uncle Kamal Harnad was a SHIN BET informant, who had it rigged with an explosive chip, which could be activated remotely. A small Israeli aircraft was orbiting the bus in which Ayaash was travelling.”

Above instance has been mentioned to illustrate Israel’s determination to eliminate every anti- Israeli by whatever means some of which cannot even be conceived of by the rest of the world. A rare combination of use of technology and surveillance. But most of the world hardly knew about this effective, potent and amazing weapon of asymmetric warfare. It is not the number of casualties or injured that is of consequence; it is the morbid and continuous fear of unknown that makes this mode of operation an unbelievable success. ‘Anything, anytime, anywhere can explode’.

Nearly 28 years later on 17th September, 2024 Israel (supposedly) attempted the same technique with unbelievable success to decimate enemy of Israel; The Hezbollah. Few thousand pagers held mostly by Hezbollah fighters exploded simultaneously on a relatively quiet afternoon in Lebanon injuring nearly everyone holding the pager and killing a few. A day later Walkie-Talkies used by Hezbollah met the same fate.

Most pertinent issue that emerges is as to how did Israelis or some other entity manage to place the explosives inside the pagers/walkie-talkie meant for use by Hezbollah? Of far greater significance than technology is intelligence operatives ability to intercept the ‘SUPPLY CHAIN’ channel of the equipment.

Interception of entire consignment of pagers headed for Lebanon and placing of explosive with suitable chip connected with normal pager operation must be considered as a marvellous technological innovation/job. It is this issue that has opened a Pandora’s Box.

No doubt Israel has been able to shock Hezbollah but in the process has released the ‘GENIE’, albeit unintentionally. Every invention/modification of equipment invariably reaches the anti-national elements, sooner than later.

India imports huge amount of electronics from China. Nearly identical items are imported to Pakistan, Bangla Desh and other neighbouring countries. There is no way to identify the ‘virginity’ of supply chain either by distributors or buyers. Which of these devices will be embedded with an ‘explosive chip’ will be impossible to detect even if the devices are stripped and examined. World still does not know the effect of a virus called TROJAN HORSE. It is a ‘sleepy’ virus, embedded in chips, which can be activated by the manufacturer by a simple command.

India specific chances of such attacks are huge. For instance as on date most drone components are imported from China. Is the message clear or it needs amplification? Every conceivable electronic gadget can be embedded with an explosive chip, which can be activated remotely. The risk is no longer confined to mobiles and pagers which can be used as a miniature bomb. Ordinary chargers, toys, computer games etc to mention a few, might be the next option; may be it is already happening.

General Paul Miki Nakasone, a four star general of US Army, who headed the United States Cyber Command, retired from his post in February, 2024 has opined;

“The perpetrators “had incredible ability to do targeting intelligence and to be able to actually know the numbers, know who’s got them, [and] know the periodicity upon which they’re using them. A major concern now is how those types of hijacks could end up inside U.S. consumer products or devices. One is, if this was a supply-chain [attack], I think about our own supply chains and what we need to be able to do to ensure their integrity,” he said. “The second piece is, if it wasn’t a supply-chain attack, how was this conducted?”

Indeed Israel (supposedly) has achieved huge tactical success without firing a single bullet but in the process has ‘RELEASED A GENIE THAT WILL NEVER BE PUT BACK IN THE BOTTLE’. Israel has, albeit inadvertently, given the terrorists an ultimate weapon of carnage, stunning capability and disaster. Every technological innovation/invention has already been used by terrorists except nuclear detonation.

Immediate effect will be on air travel. Perhaps one option will be to ban carriage of mobiles while travelling by air. But that will never happen. Another option will be to remove the batteries from mobiles and ban carriage of any form of batteries. It will give a business opportunity as well; leave original battery before boarding and collecting a fresh battery at destination. Of course it will have costs. Hijackers will be without jobs.

Happy Stressful Years ahead! When, where and what will explode in one’s face cannot be determined but will happen with amazing regularity. Days of tiffin, toy bombs equipped with timing devices are over. An ordinary TV remote will do the job.

E-Detonation is here to stay.

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NOTE - The views in the article are the author's personal views based on his study / research / experience.The maps and photographs are for symbolic representation only.