FBI director says Gaza war could inspire more terror attacks

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs heard testimony on Tuesday from FBI Director Christopher Wray. Hamas’ attack on Israel will “serve as an inspiration” to other terror groups, he said. Wray likened the pending threat to when ISIS “launched its so-called caliphate several years ago” and chronicled multiple threats received from al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hezbollah against American citizens at home and U.S. interests abroad. The threat also includes domestic terrorists targeting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities.

What other threats did he discuss? Wray discussed cyberattacks by Iran, which he said will worsen as the conflict in Gaza expands. He also cited threats of intellectual property theft by China and the threat of fentanyl trafficking. Wray ended by requesting lawmakers to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which regulates how the bureau acquires intelligence and monitors foreign threats. Wray described Section 702 as a “toolkit against foreign adversaries” that will help prevent terror attacks domestically and internationally.

Dig deeper: Read Emma Freire’s report in WORLD Magazine on the rise in private home security cameras to prevent and combat local crime.