In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, devastating airstrikes by Israeli forces have become a near-daily occurrence. These airstrikes have often resulted in the destruction of the homes of notable Palestinians, including journalists, physicians, and aid workers, causing the deaths of numerous family members, including children.
One such incident involved the prominent Palestinian poet and professor, Refaat Alareer, who had sought refuge at a family home during the war. Tragically, an Israeli airstrike not only took his life but also the lives of his brother, sister, and four children. Journalists in Gaza have also suffered greatly, with a death toll of at least 90 Palestinians, making it the deadliest period for journalists in any modern conflict.
These horrifying casualties raise uncomfortable questions about Israel’s conduct in the conflict. Who are Israeli commanders targeting with these deadly strikes, and how are these targets selected? A recent investigative report by +972 Magazine and Local Call brings some disturbing answers to light, revealing the blurred lines between artificial intelligence (AI) and morality.
According to the report, the Israeli Defense Force has been using an AI program called “Lavender” to identify targets in Gaza since the start of the war. The IDF admits to using AI for intelligence purposes but maintains that human decision-making remains central to targeting decisions. However, the +972 report suggests that human reviews of the AI targets are often nothing more than a brief rubber stamp, lasting as little as 20 seconds.
What is even more troubling is that the Lavender AI system still has an error rate of 10% in targeting accuracy. This means there is a significant risk of mistakenly bombing individuals who share names with Hamas members or even people who have recently inherited a phone number.
Even when Israeli intelligence identifies a target with suspected ties to Hamas, they face a moral dilemma regarding the presence of civilians in the vicinity. In the early weeks of the conflict, Israeli commanders allegedly deemed it acceptable to kill as many as 15 to 20 innocent civilians for every low-level Hamas operative targeted. This number increased to hundreds for higher-level Hamas leaders.
The +972 report also reveals that alleged low-level Hamas operatives are targeted with less precise, so-called “dumb bombs” to save more expensive “smart bombs” for higher-ranking individuals. This strategy leads to more collateral damage and further increases civilian casualties.
Perhaps the most troubling revelation is that the Lavender AI system excels at tracking selected targets to their homes, where airstrikes are deemed most successful. Unfortunately, this also means that the homes of these targets become targets themselves, resulting in the deaths of their wives, children, and other family members. Shockingly, the AI system is better at locating the target’s home than determining whether the target is actually present. This has led to instances where entire families are killed for no reason.
One operation in particular, ominously named “Where’s Daddy?”, highlights the dark reality of Israel’s use of AI in this conflict. It eerily echoes the historical use of new technologies to cause destruction, from machine guns in World War I to Zyklon B gas in Nazi death camps. The rise of AI takes this to a troubling new level, where decisions of life and death are assigned to machines to avoid moral culpability.
The stories emerging from Gaza serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the ethical implications of relying on AI. It is crucial that we continue to question and challenge the use of these technologies, ensuring that the pursuit of military objectives does not overshadow the value of human life.
FAQ
Q: How many Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza?
A: The war in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 33,000 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children.
Q: How are targets selected for Israeli airstrikes?
A: Israeli forces have been using an AI program called “Lavender” to identify targets in Gaza. While the IDF claims that human decision-making is essential, the +972 report suggests that human reviews often last as little as 20 seconds, indicating a limited role in the decision-making process.
Q: What is the error rate of the Lavender AI program?
A: The Lavender AI system still has an error rate of 10% in targeting accuracy, resulting in the risk of mistakenly bombing individuals who share names with Hamas members or have recently inherited a phone number.
Q: How does Israel prioritize targets?
A: In the early stages of the conflict, Israeli commanders allegedly deemed it acceptable to kill as many as 15 to 20 innocent civilians for every low-level Hamas operative targeted. This number increased to hundreds for higher-ranking members of Hamas.
Q: How accurate is the Lavender AI system in locating targets?
A: The Lavender AI system excels at tracking selected targets to their homes, where airstrikes are deemed most successful. However, the system is better at finding the target’s home than determining whether the target is actually present, leading to instances where innocent families are killed unnecessarily.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza takes place in a complex and volatile region. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has been relying on an AI program called “Lavender” to identify targets in Gaza since the beginning of the war. While the IDF maintains that human decision-making is crucial to targeting decisions, a recent investigative report by +972 Magazine and Local Call suggests that human reviews of AI targets are often brief and could be as short as 20 seconds.
The Lavender AI system still has an error rate of 10% in targeting accuracy, posing a significant risk of mistakenly bombing individuals who share names with Hamas members or those who have inherited a recently used phone number. This imprecision increases the chances of collateral damage and further civilian casualties.
One ethical dilemma faced by Israeli intelligence is the presence of civilians in the vicinity of targets with suspected ties to Hamas. In the early weeks of the conflict, Israeli commanders allegedly deemed it acceptable to kill as many as 15 to 20 innocent civilians for every low-level Hamas operative targeted. This number increased to hundreds for higher-ranking members of Hamas. This strategy raises concerns about the disproportionate use of force and the value placed on civilian lives.
The +972 report also reveals that alleged low-level Hamas operatives are targeted with less precise, so-called “dumb bombs,” in order to save more expensive and accurate “smart bombs” for higher-ranking individuals. This strategy leads to more collateral damage and further increases civilian casualties.
Moreover, the Lavender AI system excels at tracking selected targets to their homes, where airstrikes are considered most effective. However, this also means that the homes of these targets become targets themselves, resulting in the deaths of family members and innocent civilians. Shockingly, the AI system is better at locating the target’s home than determining whether the target is actually present, leading to instances where entire families are killed for no reason.
The stories emerging from Gaza highlight the human cost of war and the ethical implications of relying on AI in conflict zones. Questions arise regarding the responsibility and accountability when decisions of life and death are assigned to machines. The rise of AI technology in warfare underscores the need for ongoing scrutiny and dialogue to ensure that military objectives do not overshadow the value of human life.
For more information on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, you can visit BBC News.
The source of the article is from the blog yanoticias.es