Defense News 

Israel

The Israeli military has reportedly employed artificial intelligence (AI) to identify over 37,000 potential targets in Gaza, according to intelligence sources.

The AI system, known as Lavender, sifts through large volumes of data to locate individuals allegedly associated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Developed by an elite division of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lavender boasts a claimed accuracy rate of 90% in identifying targets.

While specifics about its operation remain scarce, it's mentioned that Lavender works alongside another AI tool named Gospel, which identifies enemy buildings and structures.

Since its deployment, Lavender has enabled the Israeli military to amass a substantial database of individuals in Gaza who are deemed as low-ranking.

Six unnamed Israeli intelligence officials shared insights about the use of AI with journalist Yuval Abraham for +972 Magazine. One source stated that Lavender has streamlined target selection in Gaza, saving significant time and effort.

Another source highlighted the perceived reliability of AI over human decision-making, noting that emotions can influence human judgment in selecting and neutralizing targets.

The sources disclosed that in the early stages of the conflict, Israeli military leaders authorized the targeting of individuals identified by AI, even if it resulted in civilian casualties.

Responding to these claims, the IDF dismissed them as baseless, asserting that they stem from a flawed understanding of military protocols and international law. The IDF clarified that Lavender functions as a database, aggregating information from various intelligence sources to provide updated insights on terrorist organizations.

Despite the controversy surrounding its use, the Israeli military continues to utilize AI technology for target identification in conflict zones.