IDF Chief of Staff Zamir Acts on ‘Real Concern’ of Data Leakage via Vehicle Systems
JERUSALEM, Israel: The Israeli occupation army has commenced the process of withdrawing Chinese-made vehicles from its officers, acting on direct orders from Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, according to media reports today.
The decision was triggered by a conclusion from Israeli security agencies that there is a “real concern about the leakage of sensitive information or espionage through the vehicle systems,” as reported by the newspaper Israel Hayom. This marks a significant escalation in the military’s policy, following an earlier directive that prohibited Chinese vehicles from entering military bases.
The withdrawal campaign is expected to be implemented in two phases and is estimated to involve approximately 700 vehicles.
In the initial phase, vehicles will be collected from officers holding highly sensitive positions or those with access to security-sensitive information. The subsequent phase will extend the collection to all officers. The entire operation is slated to conclude by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Most of the affected vehicles are reportedly of the CHERY model, which had been allocated to officers with large families due to their seven-seater capacity.
Security sources detailed the nature of the threat, explaining that some Chinese vehicles are equipped with systems that include cameras, microphones, sensors, and communication technologies. These systems are capable of transmitting information to external servers, at times without the control of the user or even the local importer.
The Israeli military’s decision is also understood to be influenced by the stance of other major countries, including the United States and Britain, which have already banned the use of Chinese vehicles in sensitive security areas over similar espionage concerns.