UN experts condemn AI use by 'Israel' in Gaza genocide
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Specific concern is allocated to what the experts called "the alleged use of AI to target 'family homes' of suspected Hamas operatives, typically at night when they sleep, with unguided munitions..."
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Israeli forces drive personnel carriers (APC) near the border with the Gaza Strip on April 15, 2024. (AP)
A group of UN experts discussed the intentional use of artificial intelligence (AI) by "Israel" in its war on Gaza and its genocidal campaign.
"Six months into the current military offensive, more housing and civilian infrastructure has now been destroyed in Gaza as a percentage, compared to any conflict in memory," they expressed in a statement.
"Homes are gone, and with that, the memories, hopes and aspirations of Palestinians and their ability to realise other rights, including their rights to land, food, water, sanitation, health, security and privacy (especially of women and girls), education, development, a healthy environment and self-determination. And this comes on top of systematic demolitions of Palestinian homes over decades of occupation and previous bombardments."
The experts cited the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, who said in her recent report to the Human Rights Council that the systematic destruction and abolition of housing, services, and civilian infrastructure constitute a crime against humanity and a domicide, alongside numerous war crimes and acts of genocide.
They added that it is almost clear how much "Israel's" intents go way beyond getting rid of the Palestinian Resistance Hamas since there are widespread attempts to force people to leave Gaza.
"If proven true, the shocking revelations of the use of AI systems by the Israeli military such as "Gospel", "Lavender" and "Where's Daddy?", combined with lowered human due diligence to avoid or minimize civilian casualties and infrastructure, contribute to explaining the extent of the death toll and home destruction in Gaza," the experts continued.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 7, 2024
Israeli utilization of sophisticated AI technology in its genocidal campaign in Gaza marks new territory in modern warfare, adding to the legal and ethical scrutiny and reshaping the dynamics between military personnel and automated systems.
Read more: 'Israel' militarizes AI in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria: Bloomberg
"The machine did it coldly. And that made it easier,” said one intelligence officer who used Lavender.
“I would invest 20 seconds for each target at this stage, and do dozens of them every day. I had zero added-value as a human, apart from being a stamp of approval. It saved a lot of time,” said another soldier.
A specific concern was allocated to what the experts called "the alleged use of AI to target 'family homes' of suspected Hamas operatives, typically at night when they sleep, with unguided munitions known as 'dumb' bombs, with little regard for civilians who may be in or around that home."
"Such a reparative approach starts with Israel, the occupying power, which has destroyed Gaza, as well as the countries that supplied military, material and political support for the war and the occupation, all of whom bear both legal and moral responsibility," the experts said.
The experts included Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; and Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
