In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a controversial program known as “Lavender” is being used by the Israeli military to autonomously select human targets for elimination. The program relies on artificial intelligence to identify potential targets, allowing for a significant increase in the number of targets selected.
Initially, only high-ranking Hamas commanders were designated as targets, and thorough checks were conducted before attacks were carried out. However, following a terrorist attack by Hamas in October, the military leadership deemed the old method too time-consuming and authorized the use of “Lavender” for target selection.
The program has been praised by some military sources for its effectiveness in identifying suspected Hamas fighters quickly and accurately. Research shows that the program identified around 37,000 Palestinians as suspected Hamas fighters with a 90% accuracy rate after sample checks. This allowed the army to rapidly expand its list of targets.
However, others have criticized the use of AI in target selection, raising concerns about civilian casualties. The program’s reliance on artificial intelligence raises questions about the ethical implications of such technology in warfare. Critics argue that transferring life-and-death decisions to a machine is unethical and may result in unnecessary civilian casualties.
The army’s actions have been scrutinized for civilian casualties, with critics questioning the proportionality of their response to Hamas attacks. Additionally, the army’s use of another controversial program called “Where’s Dad?” to track and target individuals in their homes has further raised concerns about civilian casualties. The program reportedly signals when targets enter their homes, allowing for airstrikes to be carried out when families are present. Such tactics have been criticized for potentially leading to unnecessary civilian casualties and violations of international humanitarian law.
Overall, while “Lavender” has proven effective at quickly identifying suspected Hamas fighters
