Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to target members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, according to testimony from several Israeli intelligence sources. The use of these AI systems during airstrikes has raised significant concerns about civilian casualties and the legality of the tactics employed.
According to the sources, early in the conflict, the Israeli military considered it acceptable to cause civilian deaths—up to 20 in some cases—when targeting lower-ranking members of Palestinian resistance groups. More strikingly, attacks on senior Hamas officials were reported to involve the deaths of over 100 civilians. These strikes often utilized unguided munitions, commonly referred to as “dumb bombs,” to destroy residential buildings suspected of housing militants.
Experts suggest the combination of AI technologies with such indiscriminate weaponry could account for the elevated number of fatalities and extensive property destruction seen in Gaza. Several UN human rights officials have expressed grave concerns about the alleged deployment of AI systems—named “Gospel,” “Lavender,” and “Where’s Daddy?”—that assist in pinpointing targets, including family homes, typically struck at night when occupants are most vulnerable.
The UN experts criticized the apparent reduction in human oversight aimed at minimizing civilian harm, warning that the widespread demolition of homes, infrastructure, and essential services may constitute violations of international law. They characterized these acts as potential war crimes and forms of “domicide,” a term describing the systematic destruction of housing. Additionally, some have gone further, labeling the pattern of destruction as acts consistent with crimes against humanity and even genocide, as outlined by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the ongoing military campaign’s objective is to dismantle Hamas, asserting the necessity of continuing operations until achieving “total victory” over the group. Nonetheless, international observers question whether Israel’s objectives extend beyond combating militants, citing calls by some Israeli officials encouraging Palestinians to leave Gaza and plans to establish new settlements in the territory.
Western governments, particularly the United States, have expressed strong support for Israel’s right to self-defense against attacks from Palestinian militant factions. However, critics argue that these countries have largely overlooked the high civilian toll and humanitarian crisis resulting from Israel’s military actions in Gaza, drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates and international bodies.
As the conflict persists, the use of AI in warfare—especially in densely populated civilian areas—continues to spark legal and ethical debates over accountability and the protection of noncombatants in armed conflict.