A recent investigation by +972 Magazine and Local Call has uncovered the deployment of an artificial intelligence-based targeting system named “Lavender” by the Israeli military in its operations in Gaza. This system, described for the first time through the insights of six Israeli intelligence officers with direct involvement, has marked tens of thousands of Gazans as potential targets for assassination with minimal human oversight, leading to an unprecedented number of airstrikes on Palestinian territories, especially during the early stages of the conflict.
Lavender was designed to identify all suspected members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), regardless of rank, as potential targets. Early in the conflict, the system flagged as many as 37,000 Palestinians as suspects, leading to their homes being targeted for airstrikes. Officers reportedly had minimal involvement in the decision-making process, often serving merely as a “rubber stamp” for the AI’s selections, dedicating about 20 seconds to review each target, mainly to confirm the target’s gender.
Lavender’s role in target generation represents a significant departure from previous practices. The system’s implementation facilitated a drastic increase in target generation, leading to the automated designation of thousands as potential militants, significantly based on AI analysis without thorough human verification.
This investigation has raised serious ethical and legal questions regarding the use of AI in military operations, particularly concerning civilian casualties and the accountability mechanisms in place for decisions made by artificial intelligence systems. The Israeli military, in response to these allegations, has denied any policy leading to the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, stating that Lavender serves as a database to cross-reference intelligence sources for up-to-date information on militant operatives, emphasizing adherence to international law and IDF directives in targeting decisions. John Kirby informed CNN on Thursday that the White House is currently examining the report, noting that its contents have yet to be confirmed by the US.
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