Israel’s military has faced criticism for the intensity of its bombardment of the Gaza Strip during the recent conflict with Hamas. While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have claimed to only be targeting military sites, they have admitted that their airstrikes are not surgical. However, little attention has been paid to the methods used by the IDF to select targets and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their bombing campaign.
The IDF has a reputation for technical prowess and has previously claimed to use new technology, including AI, in its operations. In the recent conflict with Hamas, the IDF deployed an AI target-creation platform called “the Gospel”. This platform has significantly accelerated the production of targets, with officials comparing it to a factory. The Gospel has played a central role in Israel’s war in Gaza, according to intelligence sources and retired officials.
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The use of AI in military operations raises concerns about the risks posed to civilians. The Israel-Hamas conflict could be an important moment in the use of AI in targeting decisions with life-and-death consequences. Other countries will be watching and learning from Israel’s use of AI in warfare.
The IDF’s target administration division, formed in 2019, uses an AI-based system called Habsora (the Gospel) to produce targets at a fast pace. The Gospel provides automated recommendations for attacking targets, including the private homes of suspected Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives. It has helped the IDF build a database of suspected militants, and targets are given a score for the likely civilian death toll.
While the IDF claims that AI-based systems reduce civilian harm by enabling more precise targeting, experts are skeptical of these claims. The widespread destruction in Gaza suggests that precision and narrowness of force are not being achieved. During the recent conflict, the IDF attacked 15,000 targets in Gaza, significantly more than in previous military operations.
The use of AI in warfare raises ethical concerns and highlights the need for international regulations to ensure the protection of civilians. The Israel-Hamas conflict serves as a reminder of the risks associated with the expanding use of AI and automated systems on the battlefield.
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