After the latest retaliation by Iran, UN chief Antonio Guterres has again appealed for optimal restraint as war heats up in the Middle East. His statement came after Iran attacked Israel with missiles and drones in retaliation for Israel’s attack on the Iranian embassy and the killing of top officials. Independent human rights experts (UN experts) have condemned the alleged use of AI and related systems by the Israeli military in now occupied Gaza, as it has brought a devastation to civilians in Gaza at a level that has never been observed ever before.
According to UN experts, more than 15,000 of the deaths reported occurred during the first six weeks of the war, when AI systems were deployed at large to select targets. The experts showed concern about the use of AI to target the family homes of Hamas suspects at night, with almost no regard to the civilians present around.
It’s shocking even to think that how we came from tunnels under the major hospitals to no tunnels at all. And from the first hospital bombed, killing more than 400 people, mostly women and children, to many hospitals and schools bombed and destroyed, but no finger pointed from the world leaders. I mean those in a position to confront.
AI used by Israel with minimal human due diligence
According to the UN, the experts have said that it will be a testification of the fact that so many people died and properties destroyed if the use of AI by Israel gets confirmed for systems like “Gospel,” “Lavender,” and “Where’s Daddy?” with minimal human due diligence to avoid home destruction and a high number of civilian deaths in Gaza.
Experts pointed out the extreme damage to civil infrastructure, especially housing and essential services. According to a press release from the UN, the experts said,
“Six months into the current military offensive, more housing and civilian infrastructure have now been destroyed in Gaza as a percentage, compared to any conflict in memory.”
Source: UN.
Francesca Albanese was also among the experts who is Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the occupied Palestine. The UN said that according to the experts, a vast number of homes have been either fully or partially damaged in Gaza, amounting to 60 to 70 percent of total homes, and conditions in Northern Gaza are far worse, with 84% of homes destroyed.
The experts are not UN employees and receive no remuneration for their work in humanitarian fields.
UN experts raise critical points
Previously, Francesca Albanese, in a report, pointed to the experts concerns about extensive and planned destruction, calling it “systematic and widespread destruction” and acts of war crimes and genocide by Israel. Experts have estimated that $18.5 billion in damage has been inflicted on Gaza, as around 97 percent of the of the economy of Gaza and the West Bank has been destroyed.
19% of this estimate is for civil infrastructure like power, water, roads, and sanitation services, while 70 percent is estimated for the reconstruction of homes and apartments. In a very concerning statement, experts have pointed out the intentions of Israeli and ex-US government officials. As the report said,
“With Israeli public officials joining calls for Palestinians to leave Gaza, to “take back Gaza” to build settlements again, and ostensible enthusiasm expressed by prominent former US government officials for “Gaza beachfront” properties, there is little doubt that Israel’s intent goes far beyond the purposes of military defeat of Hamas.”
Source: UN.
On the weekend, many Gazans tried to return to their damaged or vanished homes in the north of the strip. On the coastal road, among people were individuals of all ages, with the majority walking on foot and some on donkey carts, as seen in the photos. News reports said that Israeli tanks blocked the road to force Palestinian people to disperse and run around.
Human rights experts also said the homes are gone, and along with the homes, their memories, and also their hopes and aspirations, are all shattered. Palestinian’s right to land and their sense of realization of their other rights as basic as food, water, and security have gone. Lack of health, sanitation, and privacy is also a concern, especially privacy for women and girls, along with education and self-determination.
UN press release can be seen here.