UN Chief Calls for Restraint as Israeli Military’s AI Use Takes Toll on Gaza
NEW YORK — In the wake of Iran’s recent drone and missile attack on Israel, UN chief António Guterres has urged for “maximum restraint” in the Middle East. However, independent human rights experts have raised concerns over the alleged use of artificial intelligence by the Israeli military in targeting Gaza, leading to unprecedented damage to civilians, housing, and services.
The experts, including Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, stated that the current military offensive in Gaza has resulted in more destruction of housing and civilian infrastructure than any conflict in recent memory.
According to the experts, an estimated 60 to 70 percent of homes in Gaza, and up to 84 percent in northern Gaza, have been either fully destroyed or partially damaged, leading to systematic and widespread destruction constituting a crime against humanity.
The cost of damage to the Strip is estimated at $18.5 billion, which accounts for 97 percent of the total economy of Gaza and West Bank. The majority of this estimate is attributed to housing replacement, with an additional 19 percent covering the cost of civilian infrastructure such as water and sanitation, power, and roads.
The experts emphasized that the destruction of homes has not only taken away the physical structures but also the memories, hopes, and aspirations of Palestinians, impacting their rights to land, food, water, health, security, education, and self-determination.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Gaza, thousands of people attempted to return to their homes in the north of the enclave, only to be blocked by Israeli tanks. Reports also indicated ongoing Israeli bombardment across the region, resulting in casualties and fatalities.
Amid the crisis, the UN World Food Program (WFP) announced the restart of bread production in Gaza City after providing fuel and repairs to a bakery’s equipment. The agency highlighted the urgent need for sustained access to prevent famine and humanitarian crises in the region.
UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi warned against a potential displacement crisis from Rafah into neighboring Egypt, emphasizing the importance of access to Gaza to prevent further escalation of the conflict and humanitarian challenges.
“Another refugee crisis from Gaza into Egypt would make the resolution of the Palestinian refugee question and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible,” Grandi stated, underscoring the critical need for immediate action to address the escalating situation in Gaza.
