Wars are always about people and policy. But they are also about technology.

Over the past week, several developments in the Iran–Israel–US conflict have highlighted something we talk about often at IsraelTech: the role of Israeli technology in shaping modern security challenges.

Here are a few moments from the past week that stood out:

Reports and footage circulating this week suggest Israel’s Iron Beam laser air defense system was used to intercept drones near the northern border. If confirmed, it would mark the first operational use of a laser-based interception system in active combat.

Unlike traditional missile interceptors, laser systems fire using electricity rather than physical ammunition. That means the cost per interception drops dramatically, and the system can engage targets repeatedly without needing to reload.

For a region facing waves of drone and rocket threats, that shift in economics could be significant.

IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams.

Deel simplifies global workforce management for fast-growing tech companies. From compliant onboarding and payroll to contractors, HR, and immigration, Deel replaces manual processes with one automated platform. Hire full-time employees or contractors in 150+ countries and get set up in minutes. For more information, visit Deel.com/israeltech.

Another development discussed widely in the past week is the growing role of artificial intelligence in military operations.

Recent reporting showed AI systems being used to process massive amounts of surveillance data and help identify and prioritize targets during early stages of the campaign against Iran.

These systems can analyze information from satellites, sensors, and intelligence sources far faster than traditional human-only workflows. Experts say this compresses the time between identifying a threat and responding to it.

Whether in defense, cybersecurity, or intelligence, the ability to process large volumes of data quickly is becoming central to modern conflict.

The conflict is also unfolding online.

Analysts reported that the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes were accompanied by cyber operations targeting Iranian apps, government systems, and digital infrastructure.

Cyber activity has continued across the region, with hundreds of incidents recorded globally as hacktivist groups and state actors attempt to disrupt communications and infrastructure.

This reinforces something the Israeli tech ecosystem has long understood: cybersecurity is not just an enterprise problem. It is a national security one.

One thing that often gets lost in international coverage is what day to day startup life looks like in Israel during a conflict.

Over the past week, many founders and engineers have continued building companies while balancing reserve duty, disrupted schedules, and the uncertainty that comes with a regional war.

It is a reminder of something people inside the ecosystem already know well. Israeli startups are used to operating in difficult environments. Teams adapt quickly, leadership responsibilities shift when needed, and companies keep moving forward.

The resilience of the ecosystem is not a slogan. It is something that shows up in how companies operate every day.

Israel’s tech sector has always existed close to national security challenges.

Many of the technologies shaping the current conflict come from the same ecosystem that produces startups, cybersecurity companies, AI research labs, and deep-tech innovation.

For the IsraelTech community, the goal is not only to follow these developments but to understand how technology created in Israel continues to influence global conversations around security, infrastructure, and resilience.

The ecosystem is complex. It includes founders, engineers, researchers, investors, and operators across both civilian and defense sectors.

Our role is to keep telling those stories.

This year Israelis ran in and out of bomb shelters and safe rooms as war is on with Iran yet again. The holiday of Purim is where Jews read the Book of Esther, which describes the story of a Jewish woman who saved her people by convincing the King to spare the Jews throughout the Kingdom of Persia. She succeeded despite the evil Haman, an adviser to the King had created a plan to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. To honor this holiday, Jews around the world read the story aloud (megillah), drink eat and dance. 

Israelis of all backgrounds brought their parties, readings and even their meals into the protected spaces so that they could make the most of the holiday while being safe from Iranian missiles. Part of the irony of the timing is that Iran is modern day Persia.
There was even an Argentinian Israeli couple who got married at -3 of a mall shopping garage in an effort to continue on with their joyous occasion. 
The resilience of Israelis is astounding.

Listen to the story

We love hearing from you! Got a comment on a video? A news tip we should highlight? Drop us a message - your voice is crucial in helping us democratize the Israeli tech ecosystem, and we’re listening!

This May, Tech1 is bringing together the people building the next chapter of Israeli tech, and IsraelTech will be there as a media partner.

We will cover the conversations that matter on the ground, sit down with the founders and leaders shaping the ecosystem, and share their stories with our audience.

See you at Tech1!