Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-27
**Lead**
A new chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unfolding not only on the ground but also in the digital realm. As Israel goes to the polls to choose its next prime minister, the so-called 'silent war'—a term used by analysts to describe the low‑intensity technological confrontation between Israel and Hamas—is escalating. For Gazans, this means continued disruption of basic services, including internet access, electricity, and mobile networks, while they wait for life to resume any semblance of normalcy. The election outcome could redefine the technological landscape of the conflict, from cyber‑attack strategies to the deployment of advanced surveillance systems.
**Context**
The Israeli‑Palestinian conflict has long been a testing ground for cutting‑edge military technology. Over the past decade, Israel has developed one of the world’s most sophisticated cyber‑warfare capabilities, including the Stuxnet‑like exploits attributed to Unit 8200 and the controversial Pegasus spyware created by NSO Group. These tools have been used to monitor and disrupt militant networks, but also to surveil journalists, human rights activists, and political opponents. The ‘silent war’ refers to the ongoing cycle of cyber‑attacks and electronic warfare that rarely makes headlines but has profound effects on civilian life in Gaza.
Hamas, for its part, has invested in cyber‑espionage and digital propaganda, attempting to breach Israeli defence systems and using social media to incite unrest. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have responded with targeted cyber‑operations to jam communications, disable drone launches, and intercept rocket guidance systems. Meanwhile, the Iron Dome—a technological marvel of radar and interceptor missiles—remains the most visible symbol of Israel’s high‑tech defence, though it is not part of the silent war per se.
For the 2 million residents of Gaza, the result of this technological arms race is a shattered digital infrastructure. Internet connectivity is frequently cut by Israeli airstrikes or deliberately restricted during military operations. Electricity supplies are unreliable, and the limited bandwidth available is often prioritised for military and security purposes. Gazans rely on smuggled mobile phones, solar chargers, and community hotspots to communicate with the outside world—a fragile web that can collapse at any moment.
The election of a new Israeli leader carries significant implications for technology policy. The incumbent government has taken a hard line on cyber‑defence and has expanded the use of facial‑recognition cameras and drone surveillance along the border. Opposition candidates have proposed a more restrained approach, suggesting that excessive reliance on surveillance and cyber‑attacks may be counterproductive. One contender even hinted at a ‘digital ceasefire’—an agreement to reduce electronic hostilities in exchange for humanitarian access to Gaza.
**Analysis**
The importance of this election for the technological dimension of the conflict cannot be overstated. Whoever wins will inherit a complex apparatus of cyber‑offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as the moral and legal dilemmas that come with them. The silent war has become a permanent feature of the relationship between Israel and Hamas, but it is neither cost‑free nor without blowback. Cyber‑attacks can escalate into kinetic conflict, as seen when a Hamas cyber‑team tried to hack Israeli drone controls and Israel retaliated with airstrikes on the hackers’ building. Each side’s technological moves are closely watched by international observers, and a change in leadership could either accelerate or de‑escalate this shadow war.
For Gazans, the immediate impact of the silent war is the daily struggle to access information and remain connected to the world. The blockade has turned Gaza into a digital island, where even the most basic online services are intermittent. Young people hoping to study, work remotely, or simply keep in touch with relatives abroad find their aspirations crushed by constant blackouts. The election offers a glimmer of hope: some candidates have promised to restore internet services as a confidence‑building measure. But without a broader political settlement, technology alone cannot mend the wounds of decades of conflict.
The silent war also raises profound questions about privacy, sovereignty, and the ethics of modern warfare. Israel’s use of Pegasus to track Palestinian activists has been condemned by human rights groups, yet the government defends it as essential for counter‑terrorism. Similarly, Hamas’s cyber‑operations are often viewed as asymmetrical resistance, but they endanger civilian infrastructure on both sides. The new leader will have to navigate these grey zones, balancing security with the right to privacy and the need for humanitarian relief.
**Fontes**
This article is based on publicly available reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), analyses by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on digital access in conflict zones, and academic papers published by the Journal of Cyber Policy on Israeli‑Palestinian cyber‑warfare. Additional context was drawn from verified news outlets such as Reuters, the BBC, and Haaretz, covering the Israeli election campaigns and technology policies. No internal FORTIS NEWS sources were used, and no interviews were conducted.