Israel expands use of 'suicide robots' in deadly north Gaza assault

Israel has ramped up its use of booby-trapped 'suicide robots' equipped with tons of explosives in northern Gaza, as it intensifies its all-out assault on the approximately 300,000 trapped residents of the area.

A report today by Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor detailed how Israeli troops are detonating the deadly devices from a distance as Israel ramps up its horrific bombardment of the area, which has been under intensified siege for the last ten days.

Israel's current operation in the northern Gaza Strip appears in line with the so-called "General's Plan" published in late September, which entailed laying siege to the north and declaring the area  "military zone" – in which every person would be a target and no supplies would from that point enter the area.

Conceived by retired Major-General Giora Eiland, the plan aimed to empty the area of the approximately 300,000 Palestinians who had refused to flee and had remained in their homes in the north, so Israel could take full control of the area and make it part of a buffer zone.

Over 300 people have been killed in the area in the past 10 day.

Euro-Med stated that Israel had completely cut Gaza's Northern Governorate off from the Gaza City Governorate and has subjected residents of the region to non-stop shelling by artillery, as well as bombardment by fighter jets and drones.

At the same time, the Israeli army has expanded its use of bomb-laden robots to carry out detonations in residential areas – with the devastation of remaining civilian infrastructure a central part of the plan's implementation.

The Euro-Med report quoted a Gaza resident trapped in an area southwest of Jabalia camp, who said a huge explosion had occurred on Wednesday, blowing up "roughly six or seven houses at once", which was subsequently discovered to have been carried out by a "robot equipped with tons of explosives".

"Regardless of whether civilians are inside the houses or not, the occupation army blows up the robot," said the individual, whose name was withheld for security reasons.

Euro-Med has previously accused the Israeli army of using similar bomb-laden robots in northern Gaza.

The right groups stated that it had received numerous testimonies about Israeli forces using booby-trapped robots "that are remotely detonated, causing extensive damage to surrounding homes and buildings and a significant loss of life at a time when the work of civil defence and ambulance crews is nearly entirely disrupted".

Ambulances have been unable to operate in northern Gaza since last week as a result of Israel's attack.

Euro-Med said Israel's use of booby-trapped robots is prohibited under international law, as they are considered indiscriminate weapons that cannot be directed or limited to military targets.

Their use in residential areas "is a crime against humanity in and of itself", the rights group said.

Since Israel's genocidal war erupted over a year ago, the northern Gaza Strip, which include Gaza City, Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, have witnessed indiscriminate attacks by the Israeli army, with Palestinians killed via air, land and sea or by starvation and siege.

This article is based on an article which appeared in our Arabic edition by Diaa al-Kahlout on 14 October 2024. To read the original article click here.