Israel Deploys AI Weapons to Track Palestinians in West Bank

December 16, 2024 | 11:53 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israeli Army Radio reported on Sunday, December 15, 2024, that the Israeli military will deploy AI weapons capable of tracking “targets” (Palestinians) when firing ammunition at strategic locations in the occupied West Bank. However, this system has largely failed and was disabled on October 7 during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Al Mayadeen reported.

The Israeli army has recently begun purchasing advanced technology systems to be installed in the occupied West Bank, including watchtowers and mechanisms designed to fire remotely. The Israeli military reportedly plans to place dozens of these systems at key settlement entrances to prevent “infiltration.”

According to the report, AI weapons designed for the West Bank operation have already begun production. In the initial phase, the army will prioritize areas considered most vulnerable, with plans to expand its deployment in the future.

Training will also be conducted for members of Unit 636, the intelligence unit assigned to the West Bank, with a focus on operating the systems and carrying out remote firing operations.

Used in Gaza

An Israeli quadcopter killed Palestinian orthopedic surgeon Saeed Joda on Thursday, December 12, 2024, as he was on his way to Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza from the frequently bombed Kamal Adwan Hospital to treat patients.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the drone targeted Joda, killing him instantly. He was shot in the head.

Joda is believed to be the only orthopedic surgeon in northern Gaza, which has been under siege for more than two months.

The Israeli army has pioneered the use of remote-controlled quadcopters equipped with machine guns and missiles to monitor, terrorize and kill civilians sheltering in tents, schools, hospitals and residential areas, according to the Access Now website.

Residents of the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Gaza reported that some drones broadcast the sounds of babies and women crying, to lure and target Palestinians. Over the years, Israel has deployed “suicide drones,” automated “Robo-Snipers,” and AI-powered turrets to create “auto-kill zones” along the Gaza border. In 2021, Israel also deployed a semi-autonomous military robot called “Jaguar,” which it promoted as “one of the world’s first military robots that can replace soldiers on the border.”

Kill Button

Israel Army Radio reported that the Israeli military is preparing to deploy a Sniper System in the occupied West Bank. Manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the system consists of a watchtower and a remote-controlled firing mechanism operated by female soldiers in an observation unit. The system is designed to target “armed individuals approaching the separation fence.”

The twin turrets, each equipped with a lens and a gun barrel, will be installed on guard towers filled with surveillance cameras overlooking the occupied West Bank. No soldiers will be stationed next to the weapons. Instead, the turrets are remotely controlled, allowing soldiers inside the towers to fire their weapons at “selected targets” with the push of a button.

The Israeli military has been using the system in the Gaza Strip since 2008, but it failed to prevent Operation Flood Al Aqsa, after it was destroyed and disabled by Palestinian Resistance forces.

In response, a military correspondent for Army Radio asked, “Given the failure and ineffectiveness of this system around Gaza, why should it be expected to work in the West Bank?”

The decision to use the system in the West Bank was driven by concerns over “the threat posed by potential attacks on settlements,” according to Israel’s Army Radio.

The Big Picture

Meanwhile, the introduction of the controversial weapon coincides with an increase in Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 7, a region that has seen its deadliest year since 2006.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline coalition, which includes right-wing parties closely aligned with the settler movement, has contributed to the rise in settler violence alongside Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) attacks.

It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation forces have detained 12,100 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including the eastern part of occupied al-Quds, since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) confirmed on Friday.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concerns about the unethical use of automated weapons, fearing that the systems could be misused or hacked, with no accountability in potentially deadly situations. Many have also condemned what they see as weapons testing conducted on Palestinians.

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