Iraq to prohibit Israeli-origin Waze app amid Gaza war backlash
Iraq's communications minister announced a ban on the Waze navigation app, citing its Israeli development, with the ban set for early 2027 but possibly moved up to the end of the year.
Iraqi Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad declared that the Waze navigation app will be prohibited starting in early 2027 because it was founded in Israel and is still managed there, linking the move to the war in Gaza. After online ridicule, he suggested advancing the ban to the end of one outlet year. Sanad argued that apps like Waze aid Gaza surveillance and generate revenue for Israeli interests, recommending Google Maps as a substitute despite its ownership of Waze.
The announcement aligns with a broader push by Iran-aligned Iraqi politicians to boycott Israeli-linked services since the October 2023 Gaza war. Iraq has no diplomatic ties with Israel, and Israeli companies are barred, though some services now owned by U.S. firms remain accessible. How the ban will be enforced—whether through telecom filtering or app-store removal—is still uncertain. The minister's Facebook post attracted hundreds of comments, many mocking the policy and highlighting the paradox of targeting a Google-owned app.
