Google has announced that it will temporarily disable the live traffic conditions feature on Google Maps and Waze in Israel. This decision comes as a response to the evolving situation in the region, and Google has stated that it wants to ensure the safety of local communities. The company consulted with regional and local authorities before taking this step.

It is unclear how long this feature will be disabled in Israel, but Google has assured users that they will still receive routes and estimated arrival times that take current traffic conditions into account. This means that users will still be able to navigate to their desired destinations effectively.

This is not the first time that Google has taken such action. Back in February 2022, Google temporarily disabled Google Maps in Ukraine when the war with Russia broke out. The company cited the need to protect the security of users in the area as the reason behind this decision.

As for the present situation, it is uncertain whether the live traffic conditions will be disabled in both Israel and Gaza or only in one of the regions. Furthermore, it is unknown if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) requested Google to take this action in order to conceal the location of its troops. It is worth noting that Waze, which was launched in Israel, was acquired by Google in 2013, and last year, both Google Maps and Waze merged their separate teams into one unit.

Google Maps is not just a navigation tool; it also provides information on various establishments and attractions at the destination, including restaurants, accommodations, and places of interest. On the other hand, Waze focuses on navigation and relies on crowdsourced information to alert users of potential issues such as heavy traffic, accidents, police activities, road problems, and weather conditions.

We will keep you updated on any further developments regarding the restoration of the live traffic conditions feature in Israel. Stay tuned for more information.