Eyewitnesses and medical professionals in Gaza have reported allegations of Israeli military sniper drones targeting civilians.
Dr. Nizam Mamode, a British surgeon who volunteered at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital in August and September, provided testimony to the UK Parliament’s International Development Committee about treating numerous injuries from sniper drones. He described children and other civilians being deliberately targeted after bombings, saying, “the drones would come down and pick off civilians, children. This was day after day after day.”
Residents of Gaza have echoed these accounts. Fatma Daama, a 37-year-old living in Jabalia, recounted the constant presence of drones in her area. In a recorded message to NPR, she described how a drone, which she identified as quadcopter, fired shots when she moved near her door to improve cell reception.
Adeeb Shaqfa, a resident of Rafah, shared his experience on May 31, when his 32-year-old son Saher was killed by a sniper drone. Shaqfa reported that the drone targeted his son and then fired on others who attempted to assist him. According to Shaqfa, the drone also killed two older women nearby and continued to shoot at anyone attempting to help the wounded.
These accounts are corroborated by reports collected by NPR over a five-month period, during which more than a dozen witnesses detailed the effects of sniper drone strikes.
Known locally as “quadcopter sniper drones,” the small weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of firing precise single shots. While Israel has not confirmed their use in Gaza, the technology is well-documented, raising ethical and legal concerns about its deployment in densely populated civilian areas.
Israel’s military has denied targeting civilians, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) saying, “any suggestion that [the military] intends to harm civilians is unfounded and baseless.” Israeli officials have emphasized the use of sophisticated weapons designed to minimize civilian casualties while targeting militants.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called for urgent investigations into the reported use of sniper drones, while the United Nations and other global bodies are pushing for greater accountability and adherence to international laws governing armed conflict.
