There are grave fears about civilian casualties in the conflict-ridden region after an investigation by +972 Magazine revealed the Israeli military’s use of cutting-edge AI tech (artificial intelligence technology) to construct a “kill list” of targets in Gaza. Said to have selected over 30,000 targets with little to no human intervention, the so-called “Lavender” technology has exacerbated the already dire circumstances in Gaza. This also points towards the suspicion of Israel’s deliberate strategy to target civilians.
AI tech exposed – Unraveling the truth
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been using the Lavender system, which has a 10% false positive rate, to identify and target suspected militants in Gaza, according to the study conducted by +972 Magazine. Civilian casualties have increased significantly as a result of the deployment of unguided “dumb bombs” in attacks on residential areas where these purported terrorists were thought to be. Unnamed IDF sources told +972 Magazine that the soldiers frequently attacked these people in their homes on purpose, not caring that there would be collateral damage.
An intelligence officer, told the magazine,
“We were not interested in killing [Hamas] operatives only when they were in a military building or engaged in a military activity,”
He Also added,
“On the contrary, the IDF bombed them in homes without hesitation, as a first option. It’s much easier to bomb a family’s home. The system is built to look for them in these situations.”
Souce: +972mag.
In addition, the inquiry brought to uncover Lavender’s connection to “Where’s Daddy,” another artificial intelligence system that helps track suspected militants. Fast strikes are made possible by this advanced technology, which notifies IDF soldiers when a target returns home. How accurate or faulty the strikes are can be clearly seen by the massive number of civilian deaths. Data indicates that military operations are growing more and more reliant on technology, which is concerning even though the IDF contends that +972 Magazine exaggerated the value of these AI technologies.
The human cost
The startling number of civilian casualties is a sobering reflection of the catastrophic results of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, which was driven by AI-based targeting systems. The analysis shows that the battle, which started in October, has taken the lives of at least 33,000 Palestinians. Because AI technology combined with lax rules of engagement has raised the human cost of the fight, there are moral problems with using such advanced weaponry in densely populated areas, as these systems are not fault-free. But in this scenario, it seems more a problem of intent.
A another officer told 972mag
“You don’t want to waste expensive bombs on unimportant people — it’s very expensive for the country and there’s a shortage,”
Source: +972mag.
This statement shows that there is urgent need for accountability and oversight in the development and deployment of military AI technology. Combining artificial intelligence with armed conflict poses profound moral and humanitarian challenges, which demand a closer examination of the ethical implications of autonomous systems in warfare.
As information concerning Israel’s covert use of AI technology to target Palestinians becomes public, the international community must consider how to resolve the moral conundrums raised by the use of AI in conflict in order to stop additional harm to civilians. There is an increasing number of civilian casualties in conflicts fueled by new technology, making it more important than ever for military operations to use open and accountable procedures.
