Israeli forces in Gaza have deployed quadcopter drones, taking part in the sounds of crying infants and distressed girls, to attract Palestinians out of their properties in open areas the place they are often focused. “In mid-April, we have been knowledgeable that Israeli quadcopters have been emitting weird sounds, together with child sounds or girls screaming,” Maha Hussaini, Euro-Med Human Rights monitor, instructed Al Jazeera.
“I went personally to Nuseirat and I interviewed a number of Palestinians individually and the testimonies have been virtually an identical,” she mentioned.
The drones have been “taking part in sounds of screaming girls” to “lure residents out of their properties and to seek out somebody to shoot,” she mentioned. This was confirmed by the hospital experiences.
“Quadcopters have been emitting child sounds, taking part in sounds of screaming girls.”
Palestinians in Gaza say Israel has been utilizing small quadcopter drones, geared up with loudspeakers, to lure them out of their properties after which shoot them. #GazaCrimes pic.twitter.com/W4VytzyvdA
— Al Jazeera Investigations (@AJIunit) December 2, 2024
“There have been instances of individuals getting injured by these quad captors after going out to determine what was the sound to attempt to assist,” she mentioned.
Nuseirat resident Mohammad Nabhan recalled listening to a girl shouting “assist” alongside the cries of a child. On realising that the sounds emanated from a quadcopter, Mr Nabhan warned his cousin, “Don’t fall for it; it is a sound system.” Abu Anas Al-Shahrour, a neighbour, heard the cries of misery and went out to assist however was shot within the head.
Other incidents throughout Gaza, in Khan Younis, and the occupied West Bank, included recordings of a kid crying, “I need my mom,” and threats warning Palestinians “will die” in the event that they resist.
Quadcopters, remote-controlled drones, have been extensively utilized by Israeli forces because the escalation of hostilities on October 7. These units have been utilised for surveillance, particular person concentrating on, and crowd dispersal. In January, witnesses reported quadcopters opening hearth on a whole bunch of civilians who had gathered to gather meals on al-Rasheed Street in Gaza City.
The drones’ sound programs have additionally broadcast Hebrew and Arabic songs, sounds of tank actions, and even the acquainted calls of native distributors.
The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported almost 45,000 deaths and all the inhabitants has been displaced amid relentless Israeli bombardment. Civilians are going through acute shortages of meals, water, and medical provides. Hospitals, faculties, and houses lie in ruins, and the potential unfold of illness in overcrowded shelters looms massive.
This technique of psychological warfare has drawn sharp criticism from human rights teams. The “General’s Plan”, allegedly aiming to depopulate northern Gaza underneath the guise of preventing Hamas, has been labelled a conflict crime by the ICC, resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.