Israel's use of artificial intelligence-powered systems in the Gaza war has fundamentally changed the nature of modern warfare, enabling rapid data-driven targeting and mass surveillance. These technologies, including facial recognition, automated kill lists, and drone-mounted weaponry, allowed the military to identify and strike thousands of targets with unprecedented speed and scale, often with minimal human oversight. Reports suggest that this automation contributed to a high number of civilian casualties, raising serious ethical concerns about the limits of algorithmic warfare and the erosion of meaningful human judgment in life-and-death decisions.

Military experts believe the conflict marks a turning point, with AI-driven tools likely to become standard in future wars. For Palestinians, the legacy of these technologies extends beyond the immediate destruction, as they are expected to further entrench surveillance and control in daily life, described by some as 'automated apartheid.' The involvement of major technology companies and the refinement of these systems during the war have sparked fears of a future dominated by autonomous weapons and diminished accountability. As international legal frameworks struggle to keep pace, the Gaza war is seen as a pivotal moment that could redefine the conduct and ethics of warfare worldwide.