“Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” marked a turning point for Israel. It led the country to boost its economic cyber-warfare methods against its long-time enemies. After the operation, Israel started focusing on Iranian and Palestinian financial networks. They seized cryptocurrency wallets tied to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and launched cyber-attacks on Iranian banks like Nobitex and Bank Sepah. Alongside these government actions, groups of Israeli and international cyber professionals acting as volunteers disrupted hundreds of internet fundraising projects for Gaza, totaling over $400 million. These efforts are part of a broader Israeli strategy that mixes military, financial, and cyber tactics to weaken its opponents’ financial and operational capabilities.

This growing dependence on technical warfare has moved the conflict into the economic and digital arenas, creating new global issues. The blurred line between official and unofficial cyber operators makes accountability more difficult and raises the risk of cross-border economic sabotage. Additionally, Israel’s transfer of tech talent from civilian projects to the defense sector might weaken its long-term advantage in high-tech. The rise of economic cyber warfare shows the urgent need for international rules to manage the use of technology in military contexts, as unchecked actions threaten global economic stability, international security, and human safety.

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