Comment by xg15
Haaretz reports that the devices were purchased only recently - and heated up before detonating. [1]
So, that sounds like indicators for both, either a supply-chain attack or malware targeting the battery.
[1] https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-09-17/ty-article-li...
How much stuff is there to fuck with in a standard, untampered-with pager? Seems unlikely this was pure cyber (and some novel battery hack). And if you need supply chain interception to carry out the attack in the first place, why wouldn't you insert explosives? There's a history of these kinds of attacks.