Israeli forces are reportedly utilizing an AI-driven weapons system in Gaza, developed in collaboration with an Indian defense firm, which transforms conventional firearms into advanced computerized weaponry.

Israeli forces have deployed the Arbel weapons system in Gaza, according to media reports, following their extensive military operations in the area in response to the attacks on southern Israel on October 7.

Described as a “revolutionary game changer that enhances operator lethality and survivability,” the Arbel system upgrades machine guns and assault rifles—such as the Israeli-made Tavor, Carmel, and Negev—by employing algorithms that significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of soldiers’ targeting capabilities.

Over the past 13 months, Israeli forces have been involved in numerous violent incidents, including bombings of schools, refugee camps, and hospitals, as well as extrajudicial killings in the streets of Gaza.

The number of women and children killed by Israeli military actions has surpassed casualties in any other conflict over the last two decades, with nearly 1,000 families completely wiped out.

Conservative estimates suggest that around 44,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, while a letter addressed to President Joe Biden from nearly 100 US medical professionals who have worked in Gaza estimated the death toll to exceed 118,000 as of October. Additionally, a letter published in the UK medical journal The Lancet indicated that the death toll could be over 180,000.

Defence analysts suggest that while the Arbel weapon system may not be as advanced or as commonly deployed as the “Lavender” or “The Gospel” AI weapon systems—both of which are believed to have significantly contributed to the high casualty figures in Gaza—Arbel marks a notable connection between India and Israel’s rapidly evolving AI warfare in Gaza, potentially influencing other global conflicts.

A UN report released in September expressed deep concern over the unprecedented destruction of civilian infrastructure and the alarming death toll in Gaza, highlighting serious issues regarding Israel’s use of artificial intelligence in its military operations.

The report, prepared by the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People, noted that credible media sources indicated the Israeli military had relaxed its criteria for target selection while increasing the previously accepted ratio of civilian to combatant casualties.

The name Arbel, like many Israeli weapon systems, has biblical roots. It also refers to an Israeli town established on the site of the Palestinian village of Hitten, which was ethnically cleansed in 1948.

The specific contributions of each company in the development of Arbel remain uncertain; however, it is probable that IWI and Adani collaborated on the manufacturing of its components, including the electronics and AI system, with assembly likely occurring in Israel.

Initially presented as a partnership between Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI) and the Indian firm Adani Defence & Aerospace, Arbel was revealed at a defense expo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in October 2022. IWI operated as a state-owned entity in Israel from 1933 until 2005.

At that time, various Indian media outlets praised the weapon, labeling it “India’s first AI-based firing system.” However, in April 2024, six months into the conflict in Gaza, IWI reintroduced the weapon as “the first computerized weapon system.”

According to IWI, the weapon enhances the lethality, accuracy, and operator survivability by up to three times.

Israeli journalists were shown a demonstration in northern Israel, where they were informed that the system was being deployed to meet the specific needs of contemporary warfare.

Notably, there was no reference to the collaboration with Adani Defence & Aerospace, nor was there any acknowledgment of its prior unveiling at the defense expo 18 months earlier.

Additionally, the developers did not reveal that Israeli ground forces had been utilizing Arbel since their entry into Gaza in October 2023.

In the past year, several Indian firms have continued their collaboration with Israel in its expanding military operations in Gaza and the surrounding areas, with the explicit consent of the Indian government and judiciary.

However, the omission of Adani from IWI’s promotional materials has sparked concerns that the company may be cautious about facing public backlash after criticism arose from its earlier decision to supply drones to Israel shortly after the conflict in Gaza escalated. This move may also be an attempt to shield itself from liability should Israel face repercussions for its actions in Gaza.

“The use of AI weapons like the Arbel, which has been partially developed through Indian partnerships, highlights the growing significance of artificial intelligence in contemporary warfare,” stated Girish Linganna, a defense analyst in India.

“While this technology enhances military effectiveness, it simultaneously raises ethical dilemmas regarding increased lethality and the potential for misuse in conflict scenarios,” Linganna further noted.

Defense analysts indicate that due to the limited information available about the weapon technology, it remains uncertain how extensively it has been deployed in Gaza since the onset of the conflict.

Nevertheless, they agree that even if the weapon is designed to help combatants more accurately target enemy forces and minimize collateral damage, in the context of the Israeli military, it is likely that the Arbel has been employed to execute the devastation of Palestinian lives more effectively in Gaza.

A key insight into Israel’s extensive military operations in Gaza is that the intentional targeting of civilians was a central aim. Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist with extensive experience in observing the technologies used in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, conveyed this information to US media.

“I have engaged with individuals in Gaza and witnessed firsthand the devastating human consequences of such violence. It is truly horrific,” stated Loewenstein, who authored The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports The Technology of Occupation Around The World.

Noah Sylvia, a research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute in London, supported Loewenstein’s observations, noting that the effectiveness of military tools is contingent upon the military’s operational protocols and adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL).

Sylvia emphasized that in militaries that dehumanize populations and frequently breach civilian protection norms, tools marketed as enhancing operational efficiency are often employed to escalate destruction against both territories and their inhabitants.

“The Israeli Defence Forces have shown a blatant disregard for civilian lives in Gaza, routinely targeting children with small arms, which suggests that technologies like Arbel could facilitate the more efficient killing of civilians, including children,” Sylvia remarked.

India and Gaza War

India’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Gaza has come under scrutiny, particularly regarding the contribution of Indian weapon components. Over the past year, various Indian activists and legal professionals have urged the Indian government to cease military collaborations with Israel.

In February, reports indicated that 20 Indian-manufactured combat drones were sent to Israel, with an Indian news outlet asserting that the Hermes 900 drones would support “Israel’s needs in the Israel-Hamas war.”

Defense analysts indicated that given Israel’s reliance on Hermes drones for reconnaissance and air strikes in Gaza, it is highly probable that these drones were employed to enhance Israel’s military efforts.

Notably, these drones were co-produced by Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd, a partnership between India’s Adani Defence and Aerospace and Israel’s prominent arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems.

In April, it was revealed that rocket engines, explosives, and cannon propellants were shipped from India to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Additionally, in May, another ship carrying weapons from India was denied entry to Spain due to its cargo of explosives destined for Israel.

The recent disclosure of an AI weapon developed in collaboration with Israel being deployed in Gaza is expected to renew demands for an arms embargo, according to activists and observers.

Despite these developments, there have been no significant shifts in government policy, as India’s highest court continues to support the existing relationship. India’s strong alliance with Israel has positioned Delhi as one of the most vocal proponents of Israel’s US-backed military actions in Gaza.

Observers have noted that while India has expressed support for a ceasefire, its significant investments in Israel’s military industrial sector and armed strategies make it unlikely for Delhi to endorse an arms embargo, despite its calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In September, this situation was highlighted when the Indian Supreme Court rejected a petition aimed at halting military exports from India.

“It can indeed be challenging to pinpoint the exact production location of systems like the Arbel, particularly because defense companies and governments often keep such information opaque due to security and geopolitical concerns,” Linganna remarked.

Israel, India, and AI

In a context where India-Israel partnerships are often celebrated to an exaggerated extent, it remains unclear why Adani’s involvement has been downplayed in the discussions surrounding Arbel.

When the system was introduced to the Indian audience in October 2022, Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence & Aerospace, characterized it as enhancing soldiers’ lethality and survivability, particularly during high-stress and exhausting situations.

Reiterating Rajvanshi’s description at a defense exhibition in France in June 2024, Ronen Hamudot, executive vice president for marketing and sales at IWI, stated that Arbel includes “an electronic trigger with a new firing mode, improving accuracy in critical moments where every second matters.”

Linganna pointed out that the sensitivity surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, along with the potential backlash companies might face for their involvement, could explain Adani’s absence from promotional materials.

He added that strategic or political factors might also play a role, as highlighting a foreign partner’s involvement could complicate diplomatic relations or influence public opinion.

However, this does not imply that Adani is not leveraging the situation behind the scenes to promote its “combat-proven” products to clients in other markets.

Marwa Fatafta, the Middle East policy and advocacy director for Access Now, a digital rights organization, stated that Israel is utilizing Gaza as a testing ground to present to the world “a new and alarming model for tech-enabled warfare… this time through Indian-Israeli military technology.”

Fatafta remarked that technology rarely remains confined to a single location, emphasizing that “the lawlessness and impunity with which Israel perpetrates serious crimes using AI should alarm everyone.”

At the same time, military and technological collaborations are rapidly increasing, with Israel viewing Delhi as a source of affordable labor and a market for its products, both domestically and internationally. A key aspect of this interest in India is the emphasis on AI.

In recent years, the Indian government has identified AI as a crucial driver for accelerating economic growth in the nation.

From 2013 to 2022, Indian AI firms reportedly attracted the sixth-largest investments in AI globally, totaling an impressive US$7.73 billion.

A report released earlier this year indicates that the Indian artificial intelligence market is projected to expand between US$17 billion and US$22 billion by 2027. Experts predict that India will emerge as one of the largest reservoirs of AI talent globally.

This potential has attracted the attention of the Israeli government, academic institutions, and investors, who are increasingly looking towards Indian startups and educational establishments.

A recent study revealed that following Israel’s military actions in Gaza, there have been at least two dozen collaborations, including meetings and memorandums of understanding, between Israeli universities and companies in robotics, AI, and defense research with their Indian counterparts.

Trade union leaders opposing these developments have characterized them as an effort to integrate Indian universities into the burgeoning Indo-Israeli military-industrial complex.

During an AI bootcamp for Indian startups organized by the Israeli government earlier this month, Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, stated that India offers Israel both a domestic market and access to third-party markets, particularly in the United States and Europe.

He remarked, “Numerous Israeli companies are eager to collaborate in developing technologies, as well as in commercializing and producing them here in India. This initiative is crucial for us as we aim to enhance our technological exports and capabilities on a global scale.”

The growth of AI weaponry

Activists in India, who have been protesting against their government’s involvement in Israel’s conflict with Gaza, expressed outrage over the ongoing weapon collaborations between the two nations. They highlighted the unprecedented atrocities occurring in Gaza, as well as in the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.

The fact that these partnerships are now venturing into the unsettling realm of AI, which introduces even greater ambiguity and potential for mass violence, is seen as unfathomable.

“It is deeply troubling to witness the concern among people in India regarding the genocide in Gaza, yet they feel powerless to effect meaningful change,” stated an activist who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation, in an interview with US media.

Observers point out that Arbel is likely indicative of a larger trend in defense, where AI is being rapidly integrated into weapon systems worldwide.

They suggest that more AI-driven systems are being co-developed, potentially encompassing drones, surveillance technologies, and advanced autonomous systems that could be exported globally.

This concern has prompted activists monitoring the rise of big tech to warn against underestimating India’s potential as a future center for AI weapons production.

Loewenstein argues that without legal consequences for the mass killing of civilians, these so-called AI tools will only continue to spread.

“Considering that India is already Israel’s largest arms purchaser—official statistics indicate 40 to 45 percent, though I suspect the actual figure is higher—I fear that these tools may be utilized by Indian forces domestically or, worse, exported worldwide,” Loewenstein remarked.

“I am concerned that such tools could be sold to various regimes and governments—whether democratic or authoritarian—that may exploit them for their own malicious purposes,” Loewenstein added.