Reports Detail Israel’s Use of AI in Gaza Targeting

Media outlets and human rights groups have described a range of artificial intelligence (AI) and drone-based systems used by Israeli forces in Gaza, according to an analysis published on October 14. The article draws on reports by +972 Magazine, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Amnesty International and the Israeli group Breaking the Silence. These are allegations and reported claims, and the source does not include a response from the Israeli military.

Systems Named in the Reports

• Lavender: According to +972 Magazine, it was designed to identify suspected members of the military wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as potential targets. The report said human oversight was minimal, with one officer describing his role as a “stamp of approval.” It cited an accuracy estimate of 90 per cent, meaning about 10 per cent of those flagged were wrongly classified.

• “Where’s Daddy?”: Reports say it tracks people and flags them for targeting when they enter their homes, and link it to the deaths of civilians.

• Habsora (“The Gospel”): It was designed to identify buildings and infrastructure allegedly linked to Hamas. Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals, schools, UNRWA buildings and mosques for military purposes, which Hamas disputes. About 82 per cent of buildings in Gaza have reportedly been damaged or destroyed.

Drones and Facial Recognition

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor says at least 60 civilians were killed by fire or munitions dropped from quadcopter drones between the October 2025 ceasefire and early September 2026. Amnesty International’s 2023 report on facial recognition in the occupied Palestinian territories described systems such as Blue Wolf, which soldiers used to photograph and register Palestinians’ identities.

Wider Use and New Unit

The article says some of the same AI-enabled software was used in the war in Lebanon. Israeli military Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir has said a new Unmanned Systems and Artificial Intelligence Branch is due to become operational in December 2026.