Israel deploys AI-powered weapon near refugee camp

The Israel Defense Forces deployed AI-powered weapons on a guard tower facing the Al-Arub refugee camp on the West Bank. Euronews reports.

A 19-year-old resident of the camp, Kamal Abu Hashish, fears that the autonomous system with a target-tracking function could harm children.

“The weapon is very fast, even faster than a soldier […]. The tear-gas grenades it fires can reach the far end of the camp. I have seen it do so several times,” he said.

The developer of the Smart Shooter system said the autonomous weapon’s aim is to protect soldiers and civilians by increasing the accuracy of hitting the intended target.

“Usually the terrorist is among people we do not want to harm. We allow the soldier to view the fire-control system so that he can verify the legality of the target to be struck,” said Michal Mor, the company’s CEO.

She added that the weapon tracks the target only by human decision. The AI does not independently determine whom to shoot, or whom not to shoot:

“No bystander should be hit by the weapon.”

The Israeli army said that autonomous weapons are regulated by law. They noted that they do not use live ammunition. Soldiers may only deploy tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and foam bullets.

Human rights advocates expressed concern about the “digital dehumanisation” of weapons systems.

“When you combine technology that removes the human judgment necessary for policing with international law, a difficult situation arises,” said Omar Shakir, HRW’s director for Israel and Palestine.

Earlier in September, it emerged that the Israeli army deployed an AI turret at a checkpoint in Hebron (West Bank).

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