The data reveals that female officers in the IDF have surged by nine percentage points over the past five years, with women now accounting for 36% of the officer corps.

How has the officer landscape evolved?

Female non-commissioned officers have similarly increased by five percentage points over five years, with women now representing 31% of all IDF NCOs.

Moreover, despite an acute manpower crisis and the voluntary departure of hundreds of career personnel, soldiers are returning to service. The data shows nearly half of the 1,386 career personnel who rejoined the military are women.

What patterns emerge from the data?

Statistics spanning 2019-2024 demonstrate steady growth in women's representation across mid-level officer ranks, though substantial gaps persist at senior levels.

Among second lieutenants and lieutenants, women's share rose from 41% in 2019 to 44% in 2024, while the captain rank saw an increase from 29% to 34%. More substantial advances occurred at the major rank, from 27% in 2019 to 33% in 2024, with the lieutenant colonel rank experiencing the sharpest jump, from 18% to 23%.

Senior ranks tell a different story: Women's representation in the colonel rank climbed from nine percent to 14%, yet at the brigadier general level, it declined from eight percent in 2019 to merely five percent in 2024. At the major general rank, after one woman held this position in 2021 (7%), the number has remained negligible, hovering between 7 and 8% in recent years.

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The volume of intelligence gathering at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) reportedly led Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the American commander, to confront an Israeli official, insisting that "recording has to stop here," the Guardian reported. International personnel have expressed anxiety regarding the alleged recording, with some advised to withhold sensitive data to prevent exploitation.

The US military offered no comment, while the IDF declined to directly address Frank's request, emphasizing that discussions are unclassified. "The IDF documents and summarizes meetings in which it is present through protocols, as any professional organization of this nature does in a transparent and agreed upon manner," the Israeli military said in a statement. "The claim that the IDF is gathering intelligence on its partners in meetings which the IDF is an active participant is absurd."

Established in October, the CMCC focuses on truce monitoring, aid coordination, and Donald Trump's 20-point plan for the enclave, with posters of the proposal displayed prominently. Troops deployed there were assigned to facilitate the delivery of provisions to the strip.

Early media reports suggested Jerusalem was transferring authority over incoming goods to US command. However, a US official stated that despite American leverage, Israel maintains control over borders and entry. "We didn't take over [aid]," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It is an integration. It is hand in glove. They ([The Israelis] remain the hand, and the CMCC have become the glove over that hand," the official said. The American force includes logistics specialists trained for disaster zones.

Diplomats in Israel and the Palestinian territories have received invitations to discuss aid, according to the outlet. Although the Trump initiative acknowledges Palestinian statehood goals, Palestinian representatives are reportedly barred from the hub.

Americans and Israelis occupy separate floors, with space for allies. The interior reportedly resembles a "dystopian startup," featuring artificial grass and makeshift meeting zones. Corporate terminology has reportedly permeated operations, with residents termed "end users".

"Wellness Wednesdays" reportedly target medical and educational rehabilitation. "Thirsty Thursdays" address public utilities in the war-torn zone. The Guardian noted that numerous officials remain hesitant about their presence at the facility.

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Video: The Iron Beam / Credit: Rafael

"The development of the 'Iron Beam' laser system has been completed," Gold declared at the conference, which was held in cooperation with the Yuval Ne'eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security and the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center at Tel Aviv University. "We are preparing to deliver the first capability to the IDF on December 30, 2025, and simultaneously, we are already working on the next generations."

Will change the rules of the battlefield

According to the Head of the DDR&D, the "Iron Beam" laser system is expected to "change the rules of the game of the battlefield" after successfully proving its capabilities in a comprehensive series of trials. Developed by the DDR&D over several years, the system is considered a major breakthrough in the air defense capabilities of the State of Israel. It will allow the interception of threats using a laser beam at a cost significantly lower than traditional kinetic interceptors.

Gold added that as the first capability is delivered, development continues: "We are already working on the next generations" of laser systems, as part of the Defense Ministry's long-term planning.

Lessons from thew war

The head of the DDR&D also addressed the technological achievements during the recent combat experience. "The achievements during the operations are unprecedented," Gold said. "The operation provided a glimpse into the 'surprise repository' – powerful, groundbreaking Israeli technologies that are the fruit of development by DDR&D personnel throughout the generations."

Gold emphasized that the Defense Ministry is currently operating according to a clear strategy: "We are deep into the work on the next generations of surprises for the next war – in space, in attack, and in defense – and we will deploy them at the right time. The DDR&D is a production line that is creating the next surprises, the next game-changers."

In his speech, the Head of the DDR&D also addressed the revolution taking place in Israel's defense sector. "In the defense tech field, the game has changed – startups are now competing 'head-to-head' with the large companies and winning," Gold said, and offered a concrete example: "Just recently, a number of startups that connected competed against all the large industries in a tender by the DDR&D, and were chosen to supply the IDF with an array of attacking drones."

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According to the military, the operation centers on the "five villages" cluster. Forces are arresting wanted suspects based on intelligence identifying a reorganization of terror groups in the sector. Troops also conducted weapons searches in the town of Tubas.

The IDF stated the operation will span several days and concentrates on five key villages – Tubas, Tamun, Far'a, Tayasir and Aqaba. Forces will arrest wanted individuals based on precise intelligence following the identification of renewed terrorist organizations operating in the area.

In Tubas, reports confirmed a military curfew, road blockades and the deployment of army checkpoints throughout the village. Government institutions, schools and kindergartens have been ordered closed for the duration of the operation.

The operation follows activity on Monday, when an Israel Police elite counterterrorism force in Nablus eliminated terrorist Abd al-Rauf Ashtiyeh. Ashtiyeh was responsible for the ramming attack in May of last year that killed Kfir Brigade fighters Staff Sgt. Eliya Hilel (20) from Tel Zion and Staff Sgt. Diego Gabriel Harsaj (20) from Tel Aviv near the community of Itamar in Samaria.

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The Ministry of Defense decision comes against the backdrop of global demand for Israeli developments that proved themselves in the war, serving as a tool to strengthen the defense industry and create additional budget sources for the defense establishment that now needs to refill stockpiles, restore the IDF to full readiness, and prepare for future surprises in the coming conflicts.

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Under the contract terms, Elbit will deliver these systems over the next eight years, guaranteeing a steady and continuous revenue flow for the company.

The company's stock surged on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange by more than 6% following the announcement of the deal, with trading volume exceeding 55 million shekels ($15.5 million). The company currently holds a market value of 76.5 billion shekels ($21.6 billion), and the stock has climbed impressively by more than 60% since the year began.

Elbit operates at a price-to-book ratio of 5.4 and a price-to-earnings ratio of 50 – an elevated multiple that captures the company's substantial order portfolio and anticipates future deals. Investors are factoring in the company's growth potential amid aggressive worldwide defense budget expansions.

The contract adds to a string of major agreements Elbit has secured over the past year, largely driven by the evolving global security landscape and sharp increases in defense spending. In Europe, for instance, numerous countries plan to increase their defense budgets to approximately 5% of GDP, generating substantial business opportunities for leading defense industry firms, such as Elbit Systems.

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Most drone systems require a highly skilled operator for launch, landing and control from a ship's deck. This has severely limited the ability to use drones continuously at sea because navies struggle to staff and train expert operators who must be present around the clock during maritime missions.

On top of that, drones are vulnerable to GPS disruption, electronic warfare and harsh weather. In high waves or strong crosswinds, even an experienced operator may struggle to land a drone on a vessel.

An Israeli start-up called Wonder Robotics has developed maritime capabilities for its proprietary technology suite, Wonderland, which the company says solves the problem. The new system provides a drone with secure positioning data, autonomous steering and control, and real-time decision-making so the aircraft can assess a vessel's status even in stormy seas, overcome electronic interference and carry out an accurate and safe landing.

The company is currently negotiating with several navies and conducting a series of tests and demonstrations in different maritime environments and on vessels of various sizes, ahead of integrating the maritime version into operational naval drones.

Over the past two years, the global maritime battleground has seen a sharp escalation, including repeated attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on merchant ships and major shipping routes. These incidents underscored how vulnerable global trade arteries are to threats from the air and shore, highlighting the urgent need for flexible, autonomous defensive capabilities within naval forces.

With advances in autonomous technology, drones can now be launched and operated directly from ships without relying on a dedicated, highly trained operator and without placing additional risk on the crew.

Wonder Robotics already operates in several defense environments worldwide, including the US and Singapore. Adi Shimon, the company's CEO and co-founder, said: "The ability to land safely on a ship in rough sea conditions is a genuine technological breakthrough. Our system gives navies a clear operational advantage: drones that function as if they had an experienced human pilot standing on the deck, even without GPS and without communications."

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Police are preparing to confront Tomer-Yerushalmi, with several of her former superiors in the coming days – including former Chief Military Prosecutor Col. Matan Solomon – as they work to identify everyone who was aware of the video leak. Her legal team appealed her extended arrest and requested house arrest instead, contending that no danger exists as authorities claimed.

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According to the Israel Hayom report, the directive was issued by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir following a security assessment that certain Chinese-made cars may pose a risk of data leaks or surveillance. The order initially applies to officers in classified roles or those with access to sensitive information, and is expected to extend to all officers by the first quarter of 2026.

The report said about 700 vehicles are affected, most of them seven-seat models made by China's Chery company, which had been provided to officers with large families. Israeli intelligence officials cited concerns that modern vehicles include cameras, microphones, sensors, and wireless connectivity that could potentially transmit data to external servers. A former senior officer told Israel Hayom that "every 'smart' car is essentially a computer on wheels," capable of collecting information near sensitive installations.

The Chinese Embassy called the reports "groundless speculation and lies," insisting that vehicles exported from China to Israel comply fully with Israeli law and do not pose any security threat."China's new energy vehicles, with their outstanding innovation and high product quality, have won the favor of consumers around the world," the embassy said. "All vehicles exported from China to Israel, which comply with the Israeli laws and regulations on data security and transmission, pose no threat to Israel's national security."

The embassy added that the Chinese government "has never asked, and will never ask, any company to engage in any form of espionage."

It said that the data functions of Chinese electric vehicles are no different from those of other brands. "The so-called 'data collection' is nothing more than a normal and essential function of smart driving systems. In this regard, there is no fundamental difference between Chinese vehicles and those from other countries."

According to the statement, any data gathered by Chinese electric vehicles is stored in a sealed unit inside the car. "If you drive a Chinese brand EV, your data will be gathered and sealed in a 'black box' in the car, but not transferred, and will only be used when there is an accident and the driver's actions and the car's path need to be checked," the embassy said.

It also noted that while some electric vehicles use cloud services, "all relevant servers are located in Europe" and are managed according to local laws. The statement emphasized that Chinese manufacturers exporting to Israel had taken additional precautions. "Given Israel's high sensitivity to security issues, Chinese automakers have specifically removed the connectivity functions from the models exported to Israel, fundamentally eliminating any possibility of data transmission through a vehicle's intelligent systems."

The embassy concluded by calling for fair treatment of Chinese businesses: "The global journey of China's electric vehicles is an open and upright path of innovation. This path of cooperation brings cleaner air, more advanced technologies, better choice, more comfortable experiences, and a fairer market for all. We hope the Israeli side will view and treat Chinese brands in a fair and objective manner, and provide Chinese companies with a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment."

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At the conference, Cohen revealed cases where the Mossad during his tenure shared life-saving intelligence, including with Australia. "We gave the Australians probably one of the most critical intelligence items, which saved hundreds of lives, when a bomb was en route to an Etihad aircraft scheduled to depart Sydney for Dubai or Abu Dhabi. This was our intelligence, and what do we receive back from Australia?" Cohen asked, referring to Canberra's recognition of a Palestinian state.

Cohen indicated Israel provides life-saving intelligence to other Western intelligence agencies, primarily the American CIA and British MI6. Cohen emphasized Israel shouldn't stop intelligence sharing, explaining, "We need to trade this coordinated intelligence, which ultimately saves lives, for improved support. I'm not proposing the Mossad or Israel's intelligence forces cease collecting or sharing intelligence with our global partners to protect other people's lives [meaning non-Israelis], but I am proposing we trade it differently."

Earlier this week, the Mossad exposed an Iranian operative who planned attacks in Australia, Germany and Greece. Cohen officially stated at the conference he won't run in the upcoming elections. However, he didn't rule out entering political life later. When asked about running for office in elections a year away, Cohen responded, "The answer is no. Not now. We'll see what develops."

Cohen revealed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously told him he considered him his successor. "When I served as Mossad chief, Prime Minister Netanyahu suggested I was his successor. One day I approached him and asked if he genuinely said this, and he confirmed it, explaining his reasoning. This occurred in 2018 or 2019 I believe, and then my wife responded, 'No, absolutely not. We're not entering this.' But I believe everything shifted dramatically after October 7, and there's a need for fresh leadership. So the possibility can't be completely ruled out. I'm weighing everything, but my decision now is no."

Video: Yossi Cohen at the Shurat Hadin conference with Ariel Kahana / Credit : Ohad Kab

Regarding the war-ending agreement, Cohen stated, "This isn't the perfect agreement, but currently it's time for a ceasefire and this was a price worth accepting for freeing the hostages. I don't believe the US or other parties will block Israel from combating terror going forward. Israel should decide whether to cut all ties with Qatar once all deceased hostages return. We lack genuine relations with them, we merely used them as intermediaries for channeling funds to Gaza, ostensibly for the population's welfare, but actually they reached Hamas. This was an error, designed for humanitarian assistance, but concluded with the money financing terror."

Attorney Nitzana Darshan-Leitner, president of the Shurat HaDin organization and conference organizer, concluded, "The war isn't over yet. The policy threats to create a Palestinian state combined with The Hague court's hostility lead to an unprecedented surge in Israel hatred and antisemitism. We must consolidate all forces addressing this issue to push back. Let the entire world understand it's unacceptable to allow terror to gain strength. We must combat it on the battlefield, in courtrooms and also in the global public opinion sphere. If we work together, we can secure the future of the Jewish people in the Land and throughout the Diaspora."

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