‘Gaza is a test site for future AI Technologies’
How the IDF are using AI systems to speed up their bombings in Gaza and across Syria and Lebanon.
Both ‘Gospel’ and ‘Lavender’ are two AI systems the IDF are using to target and incite attacks as they commit genocide across the region of Palestine. This post will provide some insight into how these systems work.
The systems first intake large-scale data collections that are provided through the mass surveillance of the Gaza region and all historical data on Palestine. As Palestinians pass through hundreds of checkpoints, their movement and facial biometrics are being matched against an Israeli database. ‘The Alchemist’ then transfers this data between departments and specifically to Fire Factory. This technology then observes and categorises the data into 4 categories:
(1) Tactical targets – armed militants, militant headquarters
(2) Underground targets – tunnels under civilian homes
(3) Family of Hamas operatives
(4) Residential high rise buildings / Civilians (“power targets”)
Once categorised, the data goes through the AI system ‘Gospel’ which produces an output of specific infrastructural bombing targets in Gaza.
Next, the data goes through the AI system ‘Lavender’ used to target specific individuals with 90% accuracy (considering Israel’s broad definition of Hamas operative). Lavender links the individual to the address of their family home and suggests a weapon for the IDF to use on the target. It’s reported that with low ranking Hamas operatives, cheaper bombs are suggested by the AI, these bombs cause more collateral damage with between 15-300 casualties per strike.
A final and single ‘human check’ is done to ensure the target is male.
Hamas are integrated into society in Gaza, police force, doctors and civil society all interact with Hamas, consequently the IDF expanded their definition of Hamas to include the broader population and list them as targets.
Iron Dome, a preventative measure and AI tool used to protect Israel and Smash from Smart Shooter, the AI precision assault rifle site that uses advanced image processing algorithms to hone in on a target, are two other Israeli-developed military technologies.
Gaza is being used as a test site for these violent technologies and there is currently a lack of accountability and oversight for this warfare. Without campaigning for oversight these technologies will become more advanced and genocides will committed faster and with less interaction from the perpetrators.