Executive Summary

AI-enabled operations in Gaza indicate that warfare is entering a new phase defined by semi-automated targeting, persistent surveillance, and data-driven decision-making. These bear significant implications for global conflict.  

Evidence from Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operations suggests that AI systems are already shaping targeting processes at scale while integrating continuous population-level surveillance into combat environments. This reflects a broader trend toward faster, data-centric warfare in dense urban settings. As militaries worldwide adopt similar capabilities, these developments are likely to accelerate the normalisation of AI-driven operations.

Early adoption by other military actors, including the United States and China, indicates that these practices are unlikely to remain localised. Instead, Gaza may represent a proving ground for a broader shift toward AI-enabled lethal operations.

At the same time, this is raising critical questions about escalation dynamics, civilian risk, and the erosion of traditional ethical constraints in warfare.