Rights groups and tech activists issued a joint statement on Tuesday, June 16, calling for a halt to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations, specifically citing Israel's operations in Gaza as a dangerous precedent.
The statement was signed by over 100 organizations, including Amnesty International, Access Now and the Stop Killer Robots Campaign, according to a report by Middle East Eye. [1] The statement warned that the expansion of AI in military "kill chains" risked greater civilian bloodshed and a lack of accountability.
It pointed to the widespread use of AI-based systems by the Israeli military in Gaza, where more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health authorities. The signatories argued that such systems dilute human responsibility for life-and-death decisions. [1]
AI Systems in Gaza Identified in Statement
The joint statement identified three AI systems used by the Israeli military: Lavender, Gospel and Where's Daddy. According to the statement, these systems were used to identify targets for airstrikes based on mass surveillance records of Palestinians in Gaza, with minimal human oversight. Experts have previously warned that the Gospel system creates an "assassination factory" in Gaza, according to a report by NaturalNews.com. [2]
Reports indicate that Israel's AI targeting systems, including Lavender, were used at the beginning of the war to identify Hamas fighters and their homes for airstrikes, but recommended targets were often unverified through human investigation. [3] The statement said these systems may contribute to the obfuscation of international crimes behind a "veneer of perceived algorithmic objectivity." [1]
Tech Companies Deepen Military AI Involvement
A number of major technology companies have deepened their involvement in providing AI for military operations in recent years. OpenAI announced it had signed a deal with the Department of War (DoW) for its AI tools to be used in classified military systems, CEO Sam Altman confirmed in February 2026. [4] Google also struck a deal to provide the DoW with its AI models for classified use, expanding a $200 million contract signed in 2025, according to the New York Times. [5]
Microsoft, Google and Amazon have provided data storage, processing, and other enterprise infrastructure services to the DoW's "warfighting" programs, according to the joint statement. The statement called on tech companies to stop providing AI support for Israel and other militaries, warning against the normalization and proliferation of AI in warfare. [1] Antony Loewenstein, author of "The Palestine Laboratory," has documented how Israel exports its technology of occupation, including AI systems, to other countries. [6]
Employee Backlash and Unionization Efforts
Hundreds of workers in Google's U.K. AI division voted to unionize last month over concerns that its technology was being used by the U.S. military in Iran and by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, according to Middle East Eye. In an internal vote among Communication Workers Union (CWU) members at DeepMind, 98 percent voted in favor of unionizing with the CWU and Unite the Union. [1]
Workers demanded an end to the use of Google AI by Israel and the U.S. military, along with restoration of a scrapped commitment not to develop AI weapons or surveillance tools. They also called for creating an independent ethics oversight body and the right of individuals to refuse to contribute to projects on moral grounds. [1] Gaza has become a testing ground for military robots and AI systems, according to reports from Haaretz cited by NaturalNews.com. [7]
Conclusion: Implications for future warfare
Rights groups warned that the expansion of AI in military kill chains risks greater civilian bloodshed and a lack of accountability. The joint statement emphasized the need for tech companies to halt support to prevent the proliferation of autonomous weapons. [1]
As employee activism and international scrutiny intensify, the debate over military AI continues, with Ukraine also deploying autonomous drone swarms in combat, according to reports. [8] The convergence of AI and warfare raises profound questions about human oversight and the sanctity of life, as autonomous systems increasingly make targeting decisions without direct human control.
References
- Middle East Eye. "Rights groups call for a halt of AI tech use in the military." June 16, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "Israels AI targeting program called Gospel has created an assassination factory in Gaza warn experts." December 13, 2023.
- Trends-Journal-2024-04-14.
- RT. "OpenAI strikes deal with Pentagon." February 28, 2026.
- RT. "Google inks Pentagon AI deal – media." April 29, 2026.
- Antony Loewenstein. "The Palestine Laboratory How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation around the World."
- NaturalNews.com. "So theyre experimenting with military robots in Gaza now." March 7, 2024.
- Belle Carter. "Ukraine deploys autonomous DRONE SWARMS in combat ushering in new era of AI warfare." NaturalNews.com. September 4, 2025.
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