The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is using new drone technology in its war against Hamas, and accounts of sniper drones targeting civilians underscore the urgent need for meaningful human oversight in the use of military technology.
Eyewitness reports describe firearm-equipped drones used for precision targeting in Gaza, but Israel’s restrictions on journalists in Gaza prevent comprehensive reporting and verification of events. As a result, information about the drones is limited, relying heavily on information from healthcare workers in Gaza. Dr. Nizam Mamode is a British surgeon who worked at a hospital in Central Gaza. He gave testimony to a committee in the UK Parliament that sheds light on the reports of sniper drones, called “quadcopters,” and their devastating impact on civilians.
According to Mamode, the quadcopters are typically deployed following airstrikes and have become a common occurrence in Gaza. Some civilians describe instances where the drones targeted people trying to pull others from the remnants of a building hit by an airstrike, while other reports describe quadcopters shooting at civilians moving through the streets and trying to get to hospitals. Notably, healthcare workers have been targeted by drones while trying to provide care to patients. The total number of civilians wounded or killed by these drone attacks is unknown, but one doctor attributed over 20 injuries in one day to the quadcopters.
Eye witnesses describe the quadcopters as being slightly larger than commercial drones, with four small rotors on top, a camera, and a long rifle barrel capable of being fired remotely. According to Dr. Mamode, the drones fire “small, cuboid pellets” that ricochet inside of a human body, resulting in multiple internal injuries for the victims. Adding to the ambiguity, it is still unclear which manufacturer is responsible for making the sniper drone the IDF is deploying in Gaza.
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