From the Naqab to the West Bank
The integration of artificial intelligence into Israel's military apparatus has advanced at a remarkable speed. This shift occurs as the international community debates the ethics of removing human decision-makers from lethal operations. In Gaza, AI systems already identify bombing targets, contributing to high casualty rates. Now, researchers and activists warn that these technologies have expanded into the occupied West Bank to map land and accelerate forced displacements.
The Turkish media organization PalDigital recently highlighted how Israel uses specific AI tools to monitor vast areas of land. One such product is ImiSight, developed by the Israeli defense contractor Rafael. This software detects minute changes in the landscape. These findings then serve as the legal or technical justification for demolishing Palestinian structures.
According to PalDigital, ImiSight was first deployed in the Naqab desert. It targeted Bedouin Palestinian citizens living in unrecognized villages. In these areas, building permits are almost impossible to obtain. Activists argue these measures are discriminatory, designed to clear land for Jewish settlements. When the software detects unauthorized construction, bulldozers often arrive shortly after to destroy the buildings.
Israel has now transferred this technology to the occupied West Bank. In this region, Palestinian homes are regularly demolished for building code violations. A new enforcement unit under the Israeli Land Authority was established in April 2025 to operationalize these tools. The Israeli human rights group Peace Now described the move as a „step toward annexation.”They noted the agency uses advanced AI to detect „territorial intrusions.” A Calculated Escalation
Israel has now transferred this technology to the occupied West Bank
Amir Daoud of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission told Al Jazeera that this unit represents a calculated escalation. He explained that a surveillance model tested in the Naqab is being exported to occupied territory. Daoud warned that placing a civilian government apparatus directly in the West Bank signals a shift toward formal annexation.
Technological advancements in satellite imagery further accelerate this process. Digital expert Khaled Safi explained that new satellites process images using AI while still in orbit. This edge computingeliminates the delays of traditional human analysis. By processing data in space, authorities can react to landscape changes with unprecedented speed.
These developments occur amid broader geopolitical tensions. While the UN warns of Security Council inaction, Israel continues to consolidate control. The use of AI is no longer just a technical innovation. It has become a central political tool to enforce demographic shifts and bypass manual oversight in the occupation.