Israel Weaponized Drones to Kill Civilians

An investigation by Israeli outlets +972 and Local Call exposes how the Israeli army weaponizes commercial Chinese drones (EVO models) to drop grenades on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, with soldiers describing it as "decentralized killing" requiring no high-level approval.
The drones - purchased for $3,000 and modified with military "iron ball" attachments - are crowdfunded by pro-Israel donors in the US and elsewhere, with troops posting thank-you videos. Some Israeli soldiers admitted targeting unarmed civilians to "teach Palestinians through blood" not to return home, leaving bodies for stray dogs as warnings.
One soldier chillingly noted: "You see someone approach, hit them with a grenade - soon the rest understand."
The report reveals commanders set "imaginary red lines" where any movement justifies execution, part of a broader strategy to forcibly empty neighborhoods.
As drone footage captures these war crimes, the tactic exemplifies how Israel’s occupation has normalized high-tech cruelty to accelerate ethnic cleansing.

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh reports from Amman.

The +972 Magazine investigation found soldiers using these "video game-like" systems to target unarmed Palestinians, including near aid centres, without high-level approval.

An Israeli drone strike killed at least 12 Palestinians at a Gaza City food market, including Dr. Ahmed Qandeel, a general surgery consultant from al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.
The attack turned the crowded marketplace into a scene of carnage, with bloodied food stalls and panicked civilians attempting rescues.
Witnesses described victims being "targeted brutally without warning" while gathering basic supplies. The strike exacerbates Gaza’s hunger crisis by destroying a key food distribution point and eliminating critical medical expertise.

Israel’s use of precision drones against civilian gatherings reflects a broader pattern of siege tactics. With hospitals already overwhelmed, Dr. Qandeel’s death deals another blow to Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system.

Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili reports from Gaza City, Palestine.