Israel’s use of Artificial Intelligence in the Doha assassination attempt

As Arab and Islamic leaders gather in Qatar to deliberate a response to Israel’s attempted assassination of Hamas leaders in Doha, attention is turning to the expanding role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare .

According to experts, Israel has increasingly integrated artificial intelligence into its military doctrine, deploying geospatial data, satellite imagery, and advanced surveillance systems to identify and track high-value targets. These tools enable the military to predict the timing and location of command meetings much more quickly and accurately than traditional intelligence methods.

Although the Doha strike failed to eliminate its intended targets, it is unlikely to be regarded as a complete failure. Within Israel’s operational framework, unsuccessful missions are repurposed as data points to refine and retrain AI models for future engagements. This iterative approach reflects a broader strategy: embedding learning systems into the heart of military decision-making.

The reliance on AI has grown markedly in recent years, particularly in Gaza, where Israeli and international reports confirm its widespread use in target selection. Yet this technological shift has been fraught with controversy. While AI offers the promise of accelerated battlefield decisions, the lack of sufficient human oversight has repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties, raising grave questions about accountability and the ethical boundaries of algorithm-driven conflict .