The Israeli war in Gaza is also a display of Israeli expertise in the field of weaponry, and the occupying army does not hide this. As a result, clients do not need to wait until the end of the war because the new weapons are showcased on the army’s official website, with a brief technical explanation that “users” are happy with their experiences in the field.
Media Part opened the summary with analysis by Gwenael Lenoir, pointing out the use of new weapons and algorithms for the first time in Gaza, showcasing some new military equipment that Israeli companies will present at arms exhibitions, such as the “Iron Sting” mortar with a new targeting system, either with lasers or with GPS.
The article highlighted the Holit and Ya’atid missiles shoulder-mounted for densely populated areas, first tested in the sector. This includes the Negev 7 machine gun, the Ethan armored vehicle, the Smash sight, and the Perry jeep, named after one of the settlements targeted in the October 7th, 2023 attack, along with other equipment.
The Israeli media relay the army’s site, and a “Jerusalem Post” journalist turned into a sales representative, adding American weapons to the “innovations” catalog such as the previously unguided “dumb bombs” that have been transformed into “smart” bombs thanks to a GPS guidance system developed by Boeing, in addition to very powerful bombs of up to 900 kilograms.
Leuenstein stated: “For years, Israel has been testing and experimenting with a large number of suppression technologies on Palestinians in Palestine, to be promoted later on battlefields around the world, and Gaza is often seen as the final testing ground for weapons of destruction and surveillance”.
With this summary, Gaza has become an open display for the Israeli army, a showroom for its military industry and innovations, displaying the weapons that Israel buys from foreign suppliers, especially the United States. This is not the first time that Gaza has become a point of sale, but the new development is the timing during the war on Gaza”, as stated by Sher Hever, an Israeli economist and leader of the arms boycott campaign.
Anthony Leuenstein, the author of “The Palestinian Laboratory” article in 2023, argues that “When Israel sells weapons, they are already tested. This is the reason for the very strong demand, as it brings billions of dollars into the country.”
Slowly, the civilian death toll surpassed 26,000, mostly women and children, however, it is impossible to attribute the extent of human loss and destruction to specific ammunition, as Israel used all its air, land, and sea weapons, in addition to the strict military censorship and the silence of major companies.
Sher Hever, coordinator of the arms boycott campaign, documented testimonies from physicians at Shifa Hospital, who observed unprecedented injuries among victims of the bombing, and the Israeli army did not respond to inquiries regarding this point. CNN revealed an evaluation from the US National Intelligence’s director’s office, stating that 40 to 45% of the 29,000 munitions dropped in the first two months of the war on the sector were unguided.
The article pointed out that a new target identification system using artificial intelligence may be another explanation for these catastrophic losses. The system processes massive amounts of information at lightning speed and provides “targets” in real time. Hever affirmed that “This is the first time artificial intelligence has been used as a weapon”.
Concluding the article, the author reminded readers of the film “The Lab” from 11 years ago, about the Israeli military industry and its place in the economy and its connections to the political elite. General Benjamin Ben-Eliezer (then Minister of Commerce and Industry) stated, “When Israel sells a weapon, it’s already tested. This is the reason for the very strong demand, as it brings billions of dollars into the country.”
The implications of these weapons on human life and the environment, as well as the ethical considerations of their use, raise significant concerns. It remains crucial to recognize the extensive repercussions stemming from the testing and implementation of these technologies. This underscores the urgency of addressing the broader ethical and geopolitical implications involving the use and promotion of such weaponry.
