AI-Supported Genocide: Gaza
At the 6th International Justice and Women Summit, a special focus was dedicated to the genocide in Gaza. A ‘media zone’ was set up at the event venue at Haliç University, hosting discussions under the theme “AI-Supported Genocide: Gaza.” This section featured Associate Professor Dr. Khaled A. Beydoun, a renowned legal scholar, author, and activist known for his work against Islamophobia and advocacy against the ongoing oppression in Palestine; Belal Khaled, a documentary photographer, photojournalist, and artist; and Hatice Banu Acar, the Digital Channel Coordinator of TRT International News Broadcasting. The space hosted mini-talks, during which attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions.
Belal Khaled answered questions from TRT World host Efnan Han, emphasizing that artificial intelligence has been used as a weapon by Israel in its occupation of Gaza. Khaled stated:
“We witnessed Israeli forces using AI-generated content to spread lies to the world. The alleged tunnel footage under Al-Shifa Hospital, later published by international media, was one such example. Political figures like Biden utilized this information. The Palestinian people were deliberately misled with warnings about ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ zones. All of this intensified the massacre and genocide.”
Belal Khaled, who witnessed countless massacres in Gaza, shared examples of moments when he could not take photos because his priority was saving lives. The story of a 14-year-old girl who, despite being trapped under rubble, insisted that her family be rescued first deeply moved everyone.
The second guest speaker was Associate Professor Dr. Khaled A. Beydoun
Associate Professor Dr. Khaled A. Beydoun pointed out that artificial intelligence was being used in Gaza to facilitate attacks through methods such as facial recognition and location tracking, resulting in civilian casualties. He also emphasized that word-based algorithms were being employed to suppress the voices of Palestinians and Gazans by blocking social media accounts that shared content on these matters.
In the panel moderated by international law researcher Sümeyye Koman, Dr. Khaled A. Beydoun stated that countries like Israel are using artificial intelligence as a “genocidal war machine.” He explained how digital technologies, such as facial recognition and location tracking, pave the way for attacks and result in the deaths of civilians. He described the events in Gaza as “the digital genocide of our time” and noted that AI-supported programs, using name lists, have led to the mass targeting of Palestinian civilians.
Beydoun also highlighted that during this process, major tech companies have used algorithms as tools of repression. He pointed out that artificial intelligence systems were being used to suppress and silence pro-Palestinian discussions on social media. “Platforms like META not only censor pro-Palestinian conversations but also suspend accounts participating in such discussions,” Beydoun said, emphasizing that these private companies are working in collaboration with governments. He also mentioned that Instagram has direct links with Israel’s military intelligence unit, the IDF, and works to spread pro-Israel propaganda online while suppressing content critical of Israel.
Beydoun, who also discussed his work on Islamophobia, stated: “America exports the concept of ‘war on terror’ to other countries, using this narrative to globally expand Islamophobia and to pressure Muslim populations through governments worldwide. This led me to write the book The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims.” The interview was also attended by KADEM Board of Trustees President Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar.
The final guest in the Media Zone was Hatice Banu Acar, the Digital Channel Coordinator for TRT’s International News Broadcasting, one of the media sponsors of the summit.
Hatice Banu Acar, responding to questions from KADEM’s Foreign Relations Specialist Nurbanu Küçük, stated that the International Criminal Court’s classification of the situation in Gaza as ‘genocide’ has not influenced Western media outlets. Acar emphasized, “The deaths of Palestinian people are of no concern to these organizations. While international media acts as a partner to the Israeli government, social media platforms are also complicit in this situation.”
Banu Acar explained with examples how artificial intelligence can be used in the media to convey the Israeli genocide. She showed a film in which the last moments of Hind Rajab, who was shot with 335 bullets by Israeli soldiers and pleaded for three hours with Red Crescent workers, asking, “Will you come to take me?” among the bodies of her relatives, were recreated using AI. Those who watched the film experienced emotional moments.
