Israel using booby-trapped robots in northern Gaza, says rights group
Israel is using booby-trapped "robots" to inflict damage on Palestinians in Gaza, a rights group has said.
Citing testimony from eyewitnesses in the enclave, Euro-Med Monitor said Israel used the remotely detonated devices in a manner that caused extensive damage to homes and buildings and significant civilian casualties.
One Gaza resident recalled hearing an enormous explosion in the Al-Qassabi neighbourhood on 9 October.
"In fact, the sound of the explosion was actually louder than the sound of air strikes, to the point that white dust covered the entire area," they said.
"It was subsequently discovered that this explosion was caused by a robot equipped with tons of explosives, destroying roughly six or seven houses at once."
Euro-Med Monitor's field team said two additional robots were detonated by the Israeli army in the Tawam and Zahraa neighbourhoods, west of Jabalia refugee camp.
They said another was detonated at the Abu Ali Mustafa intersection in Bir al-Naja, also west of Jabalia camp.
There have been numerous reports of Israel using robots and AI-assisted technology in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.
Reports in Israeli media have described them as mainly used for surveillance, however.
Israeli forces have killed at least 55 Palestinians and wounded 329 in the past 24 hours, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
This brings the death toll since 7 October 2023 to 42,344, with more than 99,000 wounded and at least 10,000 still missing, likely dead and buried under rubble.
Health officials report that over 60 percent of the victims are children and women.
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