EXCLUSIVE: JERUSALEM – Israel’s Defense Ministry is leveraging the country’s dynamic high-tech sector to develop an artificial intelligence-powered information platform aimed at monitoring the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas, an Iranian-backed Islamist group, as reported by Fox News Digital.
Initiated by Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the NRTM system, resembling ChatGPT and other AI technologies, utilizes open-source data sources such as reports from international aid agencies, UN-affiliated organizations, satellite imagery, news articles, and social media updates from Gaza. This platform aims to provide real-time insights into the living conditions of approximately two million Palestinian residents in the enclave.
Hadar Peretz, a senior advisor at the Ministry of Defense, shared that the concept originated from the minister’s vision to differentiate between the conflict with Hamas and the well-being of Gaza’s populace. The primary objective is to gather comprehensive data for a holistic assessment of the crisis.
The envisioned utility of this system is to serve as a decision-making aid for Israeli leadership and the defense minister during diplomatic engagements with global leaders and heads of international bodies striving to alleviate the turmoil in Gaza and enhance living standards.
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Aerial view of smoke rising from Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, captured from southern Israel on January 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Fox News Digital received an exclusive preview of the NRTM platform, under development by a team of prominent high-tech specialists and leading healthcare professionals in Israel. The project commenced shortly after the violent incident instigated by Hamas in southern Israel, with a focus on mobile accessibility. Featuring a “chatbot” function for information retrieval and enhancement, NRTM currently supports English, French, and Arabic, with adaptability for additional languages.
The ministry aspires for NRTM to emerge as a reliable tool for global leaders, aid organizations, and journalists, offering accurate insights devoid of Hamas’ biased narrative. By providing factual data, Israel aims to present a clearer depiction of the ground reality and address the essential needs of the affected population.
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, who commissioned the NRTM system, interacts with soldiers at the Gaza Strip border in Sderot, Israel, on October 19, 2023. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Udi, an entrepreneur and VP overseeing business development at a VC fund, spearheaded the startup-like initiative within the Ministry of Defense. The platform, acronymically named NRTM in Hebrew, was designed to compile real-time open-source data using advanced technological tools to monitor the evolving humanitarian situation in Gaza accurately, complementing military intelligence and security inputs.
The system, managed by a team of experts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), aims to track key metrics in areas such as food and water availability, healthcare facilities, displaced populations, and energy resources.
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Screenshot of the NRTM system displaying a segmented map of Gaza.
Maor Ahuvim, the lead senior software engineer on the project, highlighted the integration of independent satellite imagery and social media content from Gaza to provide an authentic representation of the ground reality, surpassing Hamas’ propaganda. The platform’s data revealed the destruction of 8,693 buildings out of 185,000, with an additional 37,379 structures partially damaged, contradicting recent claims of widespread destruction.
Additionally, the system identified approximately 1.3 million internally displaced individuals, differing slightly from the UN’s estimate of 1.9 million, based on spatial density calculations in the southern region.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) tent camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza, accommodating numerous displaced families, on November 27, 2023. (Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Professor Eli Schwartz, a healthcare expert involved in the project, emphasized NRTM’s significance in anticipating health crises like malnutrition and disease outbreaks. Contrary to recent warnings of starvation in Gaza, the system retrieved historical data indicating recurrent claims by international organizations.
The NRTM team emphasized the platform’s utility in providing comprehensive insights to Israeli military and public sectors, enabling informed decision-making to address the crisis effectively.
An Egyptian truck driver adjusts a tarp covering humanitarian aid at the Kerem Shalom Crossing in Israel on December 22, 2023. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Despite potential risks of misinformation, the team assured ongoing efforts to filter results from reliable sources. The NRTM platform aims to enhance situational awareness for both military and civilian authorities, facilitating informed decisions with far-reaching impacts.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgency of a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Third South Summit of the G-77 plus China, citing escalating civilian casualties and humanitarian concerns.
Israel’s response refuted claims of food shortages, highlighting the consistent aid deliveries into Gaza and dismissing exaggerated reports of health crises. Col. Moshe Tetro reiterated the absence of restrictions on essential supplies entering Gaza, with over 99% of aid trucks approved since the conflict began.
Tetro’s unit, overseeing aid distribution and security inspections, anticipates leveraging the NRTM platform to enhance monitoring capabilities, aligning with the Defense Ministry’s strategic objectives.
