An Israeli Air Force reservist major and a civilian accomplice have been formally charged by Tel Aviv District Court with using classified military information to place bets on the Polymarket prediction platform regarding Israel’s military operations against Iran.
According to the indictment, filed last month in June 2025, the reservist major learned of a specific operation during a confidential briefing and shared the details with his civilian partner. The two then wagered on the timing of Israel’s strikes against Iran as well as the conflict’s expected duration and other military developments.
The defendants allegedly profited over $162,000 in cryptocurrency winnings from their bets. The civilian reportedly set up a digital wallet to transfer the proceeds to the reservist before placing additional wagers on evolving aspects of the situation.
In a statement, 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 violates IDF values and expectations for military personnel. The IDF noted that while the leak did not compromise operational security, the moral breach warranted strong criticism.
Both suspects remain under a court gag order, with their identities protected by partial restrictions allowing limited reporting.
