Google has confirmed that it has temporarily disabled the feature that shows live traffic conditions and busyness information on its mapping apps, Google Maps and Waze, in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The decision was reportedly made at the request of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who are preparing for a possible ground invasion into Gaza.
The tech giant said that the restriction was out of consideration for the safety of local communities, as the live traffic data could potentially be used by Hamas and other militant groups to track the movements of Israeli troops and civilians. Google did not specify how long the feature would be disabled, or whether it would affect both Israel and Gaza.
“Anyone navigating to a specific place will still get routes and ETAs that take current traffic conditions into account,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.
Google is not the only company that has complied with the IDF’s request. Apple’s Maps app has also stopped showing live traffic data in the region.
The move comes as the conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated to its worst level since 2014, with more than 1,400 Palestinians killed and thousands injured in Israeli airstrikes, and 12 Israelis killed and hundreds wounded by rocket fire from Gaza. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire and a political dialogue to end the violence.
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