Israel Alters DJI Drones for Aerial Bombardment and Surveillance in Gaza
Investigation Exposes Israeli Military's Use of DJI Drones for Attacks in Gaza
It's bloody hell what Al Jazeera's Sanad verification unit unearthed — the Israeli military has been modifying DJI drones for dropping bombs and spying on Gaza residents, according to an investigation.
Sanad's findings reveal that Chinese tech giant DJI drones have been employed to take out hospitals, bomb civilian shelters, and scope out Palestinians playing human shields for armed Israeli soldiers.
Got Some History
This isn't the first time DJI drones have been remodeled for warfare. During the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, similar reports surfaced for both sides of the war.
In reaction to these concerns, DJI suspended sales to both countries and introduced software modifications to restrict drone use areas and flight heights. Nevertheless, DJI continues to sell drones to Israel.
Israel's Drone Game
The Israeli military's utilization of DJI drones goes way back, with evidence of their use in numerous military divisions by 2018. Israeli campaign group Hamushim exposed Israeli military-trained operators using DJI's Matrice 600 model to unleash tear gas on protesters during the 2019 Great March of Return in Gaza.
While earlier instances of the Israeli military's use of DJI drones exist, their lethal attacks against civilians and protected targets in Gaza, as documented in this investigation, are unprecedented. Al Jazeera reached out to Israeli authorities for comment but didn't receive a response prior to publication.
Tools of War
Sanad documented multiple DJI drones that have been transformed for military use. The most significant modification is the DJI Agras drone, originally developed for agricultural purposes, but is now capable of dropping explosives on targets that conventional forces can't reach.
The DJI Mavic has been utilized by the Israeli military in Gaza for reconnaissance and target acquisition, while the compact DJI Avata drone, designed for recreational filming, has been repurposed to navigate the intricate tunnel networks beneath Gaza.
Bombings in Northern Gaza
By late 2024, Israel imposed a siege on Gaza's north, pushing residents to the edge of famine, and imposing conditions described as "apocalyptic" by United Nations observers.
Residents and humanitarian organizations reported an alarming increase in what appeared to be civilian drones armed with explosives. In an incident documented by displaced civilians, footage shared on July 17, 2024, shows a DJI Agras drone dropping a bomb onto a building housing the IHH Turkish charity in Jabalia, northern Gaza, less than 100 meters from a school serving as a shelter and aid distribution center.
In Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, a DJI Agras drone dropped a bomb in a residential neighborhood where civilians had fled after Israeli shelling of a UN-operated school-turned-shelter in November. Witnesses reported this deliberate attack was designed to instill fear.
Surveillance and Urban Warfare
Beyond direct attacks, Israeli-modified DJI drones have been used extensively for surveillance and tactical operations throughout Gaza.
In December 2023, Al Jazeera Arabic obtained footage from an Israeli drone showing a DJI Avata assisting in tracking a Palestinian being used by heavily armed Israeli soldiers as a human shield — an act illegal under international law — in Shujaiya. The individual is seen opening the school's doors to check for Palestinian fighters, closely monitored by another drone filming the operation.
DJI's Double Standards in Gaza vs Ukraine
In 2022, DJI halted sales to its retail partners in both Ukraine and Russia following complaints from Ukrainian officials about the company sharing critical data with Russian adversaries. DJI declared its move, "We will never accept any use of our products to cause harm, and we will continue striving to improve the world with our work."
Even with evidence of DJI drones being weaponized by the Israeli military in Gaza, the company has yet to respond to these allegations with similar action. When Sanad inquired, DJI stated, "Our products are for peaceful and civilian use only, and we absolutely deplore and condemn the use of [DJI] products to cause harm anywhere in the world."
However, when asked if DJI plans to halt sales in Israel or implement measures similar to those taken in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the company remained silent on the issue. DJI has not undertaken any measures to halt sales or impose software restrictions on drone use over Gaza, allowing the continued military deployment of their drones by the Israeli military.
- The unprecedented use of DJI drones by the Israeli military in attacks on civilians and protected targets in Gaza, as revealed by Al Jazeera, raises valid concerns about the role of technology in war-and-conflicts.
- Although DJI suspended sales to both Ukraine and Russia due to concerns about data sharing and drone misuse in the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, the company has yet to take similar action regarding Israel, despite allegations of Weapons-based DJI drone usage.
- The Israeli military's utilization of DJI drones for various purposes, including surveillance, urban warfare, and lethal attacks on civilians, has been documented extensively and raises questions about the accountability of businesses in the context of politics and general-news.
- The alteration of DJI drones for military purposes, such as the DJI Agras capable of dropping explosives and the DJI Avata for navigating intricate tunnel networks, has significant implications for the economy, war, and conflict.
- In light of the Al Jazeera investigation exposing Israel's use of DJI drones in Gaza, public opinion may shift towards a call for tighter regulation of technology sales for warfare, particularly in regions with ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises.
