Headline
An Israeli Magazine’s Report on the Use of AI in Target Identification by Israel Raises Concerns Amid Denials
Core Details
A recent report published by Israeli magazine +972 and Hebrew outlet the Local Call has alleged that Israel employs an artificial intelligence program named “Lavender” to pinpoint potential targets linked to Hamas in Gaza. The program reportedly identified around 37,000 Palestinians and their residences as potential military targets with minimal human oversight, a claim Israel has refuted.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over these reports, emphasizing that decisions of life and death should not be left to algorithms. While the United States has not independently verified the allegations, officials are investigating the matter.
Experts, including law professor Adil Haque from Rutgers University, have voiced alarm over the implications of such AI-driven targeting strategies, with some suggesting potential violations of international humanitarian law.
In response to the accusations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have denied using artificial intelligence for target identification, stating that they rely on a variety of tools and require analysts to independently confirm the relevance of suspected targets.
Report Details
The +972 report claimed that Israel utilized the AI system to compile a list of Palestinian targets, leading to increased civilian casualties due to automated targeting processes. Allegations of an acceptable casualty threshold of 15 to 20 civilians per target have raised concerns about potential war crimes implications, as noted by Ben Saul, an expert on human rights and counterterrorism.
IDF Response
In a detailed rebuttal to The Guardian, the IDF clarified that the system mentioned in the reports functions as a database for cross-referencing intelligence sources to gather updated information on military operatives of terrorist groups. The IDF emphasized the assessment of collateral damage for each strike, asserting adherence to international law and rejecting any insinuation of a policy endorsing mass civilian casualties.
Background Context
Recent scrutiny of Israel’s military actions intensified following an incident where World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed in a strike. The IDF acknowledged the incident as a “grave mistake,” attributing it to a misidentification of targets as Hamas operatives. President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enhance civilian protection measures amid escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in a significant loss of lives, predominantly civilian, in Gaza.
