The future of warfare is software
In this compelling Visegrád24 interview, tech entrepreneur Yaron Samid explains how Israeli startups have transformed overnight into wartime operators—fighting not only on the battlefield, but across social media, cybersecurity, and the global narrative front. From exposing AI-generated propaganda to supplying frontline troops, Israel’s tech sector is on the frontlines of a much larger war: one against radical Islamism, rising antisemitism, and digital deceit. This is not just a story about Israel. It’s a warning to the West.
Adam Starzynski
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From Startups to Survival
When Hamas launched its unprecedented terror attack on Israel on October 7, the country was thrust not only into a brutal ground war but also into a global war of narratives. For many in Israel’s innovation ecosystem, it was a moment of transformation. Entrepreneurs who once focused on scaling startups found themselves pivoting into unfamiliar roles: combating misinformation, equipping soldiers, and confronting radical ideologies across borders.
Among them is TechAviv, a nonprofit network of top Israeli startup founders operating in Israel and around the world. Since the war began, its members have redirected their time, technology, and influence into three urgent streams: media, civil society, and military support.
Countering the Propaganda War
In the information space, Israeli technologists are fighting back against an overwhelming tide of fake news, deepfakes, and propaganda. Their battlefield now includes social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and TikTok, where doctored content portraying fabricated tragedies in Gaza is used to stir outrage and demonize Israel.
Many Israeli startups, originally focused on sectors like cybersecurity or ad tech, have quickly retooled their tools to detect manipulated media and expose disinformation. Some work directly with social platforms, helping to roll out better fact-checking mechanisms. One of the most impactful innovations has been Elon Musk’s "Community Notes" feature, which has become a decentralized tool to challenge disinformation in real time. Imperfect though it may be, it has proven more reliable than many legacy media outlets.
Tech Meets Frontline Logistics
TechAviv’s mission has also gone far beyond digital. Members have coordinated large-scale civilian support for soldiers and displaced families, sourcing gear, funds, and logistics assistance that government channels often fail to provide in time. Many founders have joined emergency war rooms, stepping in where institutions have left dangerous gaps.
This is a war not only of rockets and tunnels, but of ideology. Around the world, antisemitism has returned with frightening boldness. In major Western capitals, Jewish communities are witnessing marches where protestors chant openly for genocide. Rather than being seen as survivors of centuries of persecution, Jews are now miscast in the public imagination as oppressors. This false binary of oppressed versus oppressor has erased nuance, flattened history, and dehumanized an entire nation.
For years, Jewish and Israeli innovation has enriched the world—from medical breakthroughs and AgriTech to Waze, WhatsApp, and humanitarian aid missions. Yet that story is rarely told. In its place, conspiracy theories flourish. Jewish success is framed as sinister power, and Israeli resilience as colonial brutality.
Israeli entrepreneurs believe it is time for a brand reset—not one focused on PR spin, but on truth. The Jewish story is not one of domination, but of contribution. Not greed, but grit. The challenge now is to reclaim the narrative and showcase the vast value Israeli society offers to the world.
Startups Under Fire—Literally
When the war began, eight of the twenty startup founders in TechAviv were called up for military service. Still, 18 of the 20 companies met or exceeded their annual performance goals. That resilience, leaders argue, stems from a uniquely Israeli mindset shaped by service, adversity, and purpose. These are wartime founders. Many are veterans of Israel’s elite Unit 8200 and have now repurposed their skills to develop next-generation defense technology. AI, computer vision, drone systems, and software are rapidly becoming new weapons in Israel’s war to survive.
Observers believe the next Palantir or Anduril will not emerge from Silicon Valley—but from Tel Aviv.
The Deafening Silence of the West
What haunts these founders and civic leaders is not only the rage of extremists—it is the silence of the moderate majority. In London, radicals shout slogans calling for Jewish extermination. In Washington, they storm the gates of the White House. On campuses, antisemitic chants go unchecked. The free world’s silence, they argue, is becoming complicity.
This is not just Israel’s war. It is a global confrontation with radical jihadist ideology. This ideology is not confined to Gaza or Rafah. It is moving into Western cities, infiltrating schools, media, and political circles. And unless it is named and rejected, it will continue to grow.
Activists and civic leaders across the Jewish diaspora are urging action. They are calling on citizens to contact their elected representatives.
In the United States, they urge Americans to write to Congress and demand the full dismantling of Hamas, the return of Israeli and American hostages, and a renewed push for regional stability. In the United Kingdom, they call for citizens to press their Members of Parliament to crack down on incitement. When crowds chant for genocide in British streets, there must be consequences—whether legal or deportation. This, they argue, is not free speech. It is the glorification of terrorism.
A Second Chance
Many in Israel now refer to the October 7 attacks as a “national heart attack.” A moment of existential threat—but also of clarity. In its aftermath, Israeli society has the chance to reform its political culture, rebuild its civil institutions, and create a more just and secure future.
Israelis hope that this crisis will mobilize good people—the kind who typically avoid politics—to step up and lead. With the right leadership and support, they believe this moment could mark a profound turning point.
History offers precedent. Germany, Italy, and Japan were once seen as irredeemable foes. Today, they are allies. The transformation came through accountability, courage, and a commitment to shared values.
Israel is ready to walk that road. But the West must stand with it.
This is not just a war for land. It is a war for truth, for civilization, and for the principles of freedom. In that fight, silence is no longer an option.
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Adam Starzynski
Journalist | Foreign Policy Analyst