In a brazen act of intimidation that has rattled Israel’s political establishment, a threatening envelope containing white powder and a chilling death threat was delivered to the office of Likud Knesset Member and coalition chairman Ofir Katz, his staff revealed on Monday.
The letter, written in Hebrew and included with the suspicious substance, issued a blood-curdling warning:
“We will locate one of your family members … and harm him … exactly like what happened to the 1,400 casualties of October 7.”
This direct reference to the barbaric Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023—when terrorists stormed southern Israel, slaughtered 1,200 civilians, and abducted 251 others—sent shockwaves through the Knesset. Katz immediately reported the threat to Knesset Sergeant-at-Arms Yuval Chen, prompting a full-scale security and forensic response.
A threatening letter has been sent to the chairman of the coalition, Ofir Katz, threatening him and his family if he doesn't work to dissolve the government.
— Tzvi Joffre (@TzviJoffre) May 26, 2025
It's worth noting that the name of the group is in English and the style of the title and the logo seems similar to… https://t.co/LsaT9YLlCj
A Pattern of Escalating Threats Against Israeli Leadership
This isn’t an isolated incident. A disturbing pattern has emerged over the past year—one suggesting an orchestrated campaign to terrorize Israeli lawmakers and government officials.
Just last week, Israeli Health Minister Uriel Buso received a similar envelope laced with unidentified powder at his Knesset office, sparking a hazardous materials response. Shockingly, this marked the second such incident targeting Buso, who also received a powder-filled package in June 2024.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem was the target of a comparable threat in December 2024, and the Prime Minister’s Office was placed on high alert twice—once in January 2023 and again in February 2025—after receiving envelopes containing suspicious substances. In each case, emergency protocols were activated, and elite forensic teams were dispatched to neutralize potential threats.
🚨LIkud MK Ofir Katz Israeli MK receives envelope with white powder, threat letter
— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) May 26, 2025
𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧▸ https://t.co/ETSEcYOCpl pic.twitter.com/K8nwzyE5Je
Authorities Investigating Under Gag Order
The latest incident involving Ofir Katz is now under a gag order, as security officials and forensic experts work to identify the sender and determine whether the powder is toxic. Law enforcement sources indicate the investigation is being treated as a potential act of domestic terror.
All evidence has been handed over to the Israeli Police and national security agencies for intensive examination, as fears grow that the spate of envelope attacks could signal a more coordinated campaign of psychological warfare against Israel's elected leadership.
לאחר שהתקבלה בלשכתו מעטפה חשודה שהכילה אבקה לבנה ומכתב איומים: יו"ר הקואליציה אופיר כץ הגיב לאירוע בוועדת הכנסת. צפו@OfirKatzMK pic.twitter.com/mA6kYgiNTm
— ערוץ כנסת (@KnessetT) May 26, 2025
Mounting Concerns Over Political Incitement and Security Gaps
The repeated targeting of government figures has reignited concerns over political incitement and growing radicalization among fringe elements hostile to the state. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have demanded heightened security measures and accountability.
“This is a red line,” said one senior Knesset official anonymously. “When anonymous cowards threaten to murder the families of elected representatives and invoke the horrors of October 7 as a promise of future violence, we are no longer just talking about threats—we’re talking about terrorism.”
Security services remain on high alert, and Israeli citizens are being urged to report suspicious activity. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the powder in any of the incidents was a biological agent, a synthetic irritant, or merely intended to sow fear.
