Israel's Military deploys AI technologies in Gaza Conflict.

Israel's military has confirmed the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) military technologies in the Gaza Strip during recent conflicts, raising concerns about the use of autonomous weapons in modern warfare. These technologies were used to destroy enemy drones and map the extensive tunnel network of Hamas in Gaza.
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Israeli soldiers were in the Gaza Strip in December 2023 (Picture source: Israel Defense Forces)

These new defense technologies, including AI-powered gunsights and robotic drones, represent significant assets for Israel's technological industry. The sector accounted for 18 percent of GDP in 2022, but the war in Gaza disrupted it, with about eight percent of its workforce called up for combat duty.

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have played a pivotal role in shaping the current conflict, enabling easier and cheaper aerial attacks. While Hamas has utilized them to drop explosives, Israel has responded by developing new technologies to counter them. Among these innovations is an AI-enabled optical sight, manufactured by the Israeli startup Smart Shooter, used to intercept enemy drones. This company develops AI-based fire control systems for small arms, significantly increasing weapon accuracy and lethality against both static and moving targets, on the ground and in the air, day and night.

The United States, Israel's primary ally, has even begun training its soldiers to use Smart Shooter optical sights, further cementing Israel's status as a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge defense systems. Another system involves deploying a friendly drone equipped with a net to neutralize enemy drones, in what could be termed a "Drone versus Drone" confrontation.

In addition to combating drones, Israel has focused on mapping Hamas's underground tunnel network, comprising nearly 1,300 tunnels spanning over 500 kilometers, where Israel claims the group's fighters hide and hold hostages. To accomplish this, the military utilizes AI-equipped drones to detect humans and operate underground, including one manufactured by the Israeli startup Robotican, which encloses a drone inside a robotic casing.

Before the conflict, the technology did not allow drones to operate underground due to issues with transmitting images to the surface.

"In general, the war in Gaza presents threats, but also opportunities to test emerging technologies in the field," said Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central, an Israeli tech incubator.

In December 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces had already announced the use of AI for bombings. Indeed, they deployed an AI-based target creation platform called "the Gospel." The Gospel, used to produce automated recommendations for attacking targets, was central to targeting suspected members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad, including their private homes. The IDF's target division, powered by AI capabilities, significantly increased its target production rate, from 50 per year to 100 per day.