Israel deploys AI-driven drones and targeting systems in Gaza conflict

Israeli military operations in Gaza have increasingly relied on artificial-intelligence tools that keep soldiers at a distance while targeting civilians. The February 29, 2024 incident, dubbed the “Flour Massacre,” saw tanks and AI-controlled quadcopter drones fire on a crowd seeking food, resulting in at least 115 deaths. Drones like the Bird of Prey, designed by Elbit Systems, are lightweight enough to be carried by soldiers and provide high-resolution live footage to facilitate rapid targeting.

Systems such as Lavender, Where’s Daddy?, and Habsora automate the identification of suspected militants and infrastructure, often with limited human review; Lavender’s reported 90 % accuracy implies a 10 % error rate that has led to civilian casualties. Testimonies from survivors and archives like Breaking the Silence reveal that strikes have sometimes been authorized despite the expectation of 15-20 civilian deaths, and in some cases hundreds. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor documents at least 60 civilian deaths caused by drone fire since the ceasefire in October 2025.