‘Israeli’ reservists arrested over alleged secret info betting
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- ‘Israeli’ prosecutors arrested army reservists and a civilian suspected of using classified military information to bet on ‘Israeli’ operations via an online platform.
- Authorities say charges include obstruction of justice, bribery, and “serious security crimes”, though identities and details remain under gag order.
‘Israeli’ prosecutors announced Thursday that several army reservists and a civilian have been arrested for allegedly using classified information to place bets on ‘Israeli’ military operations through a popular online prediction platform.
The indictments, issued this week against two of the detainees, a reservist soldier and a civilian, include obstruction of justice, bribery, and “serious security crimes,” according to reports in multiple US media outlets.
Investigation details
The arrests followed a joint investigation by the ‘Israeli’ police, army, and internal security service (Shin Bet) into bets allegedly “based on secret information accessed by reservists during their military service.”
The wagers were reportedly placed on the online platform “Polymarket.” Due to a gag order, authorities have not disclosed the identities of those arrested, the specifics of the bets, or further investigative details.
Read more: ‘Israeli’ journalist arrested over Iran ties as secret probe targets senior officials
The ‘Israeli’ army said the bets did not compromise ongoing operations but stressed it treats the use of highly classified information for personal gain as a “serious ethical violation.”
Global concerns
This case comes amid growing global concern over the use of insider information for trading on platforms such as Polymarket, which bills itself as “the world’s largest prediction market.” Regulators and lawmakers in several countries face increasing challenges due to the proliferation of such betting platforms, which also serve as forecasting tools.
Read more: US commerce secretary faces calls to resign over Epstein island visit
According to its website, Polymarket allows experts on nearly any topic to trade based on their knowledge, potentially profiting from predictions on anything from political events to military operations.
International media outlets including CNN and The Wall Street Journal have used data from these prediction platforms to analyze political and financial developments.
Notable wagers
In January, an anonymous Polymarket user reportedly bet on the fall of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, earning roughly $400,000, raising questions about potential insider knowledge.
Separately, ‘Israel’s’ public broadcaster reported last month that an anonymous user correctly predicted tens of thousands of dollars in bets on the timing of a ‘Israeli’ strike on Iran, as well as the conclusion of related military operations.
