Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-23 at 04:11

HEADLINES
Iranian Google workers indicted for tech theft
Hamas disarmament plan maps tunnels surrenders weapons
IDF complaints spike as Mandelblit probes PM

The time is now 4:11 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a federal grand jury indicted three Iranian nationals who worked for Google after they allegedly stole tech secrets and passed the material on to Tehran.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Hamas' disarmament would look like this: the Gaza Technocratic Committee is expected to present Hamas with a detailed plan in March outlining how the group would dismantle its military capabilities, in a process slated to unfold over roughly six months and following a heavy-to-light formula. Initially Hamas would hand over maps of its tunnel network along with its heavy weaponry, and as the period ends it would surrender its light arms to Gaza's policing forces. The plan would apply not only to Hamas but to other armed militias operating in the Gaza Strip, including rival clans identified with Israel, with outreach to those groups only at the final stage. The guiding principle is one weapon and one law under one government, led by the technocratic committee.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, 6,621 complaints were filed in 2025 by IDF soldiers against the military for various kinds of mistreatment, the Defense Ministry Complaints Ombudswoman announced in its annual report. 6,615 complaints were dealt with in 2025, with 3,134 filed by rank-and-file mandatory service soldiers, 1,269 by reservists, 965 by career officers, 847 by personnel in non-IDF defense establishments, and 406 other. The volume was comparable to 6,777 in 2024, with a notable 40% spike in complaints by career officers compared with two years ago. Mandatory service complaints remain the largest category, though the share of career officer complaints has risen. Also in domestic politics, reports cite statements attributed to Avichai Mandelblit regarding investigations into the prime minister, including that he has a mandate to decide on PM investigations and that if he errs he should be taken to the Supreme Court; another line notes that this is not what he approved at the time to examine and that he would not object to being investigated if evidence is found; and another quote says that on matters from ten years ago he would not open a criminal probe into the prime minister.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://worldisraelnews.com/iranians-employed-by-google-leaked-secret-material-to-iran/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/02/23/this-is-what-hamas-disarmament-would-look-like/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887576
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288057
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288056
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288055
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288054