A devastating strike on a hospital in Gaza has killed several people, as Israel continues its campaign against Hamas leaders. British aid agencies have called for immediate restraint, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. The hospital, already overwhelmed by casualties from previous bombings, was hit during a precision operation Israel says was aimed at a Hamas command centre.
But the resulting civilian deaths have drawn sharp international criticism. As an observer of digital sovereignty and algorithmic warfare, I wonder if our reliance on data-driven targeting is creating a new kind of moral hazard. When we outsource life-and-death decisions to code, we risk losing sight of the human cost that no algorithm can calculate.
The British government must now navigate a path between supporting Israel's right to self-defence and protecting civilian lives. The coming days will test whether our technological prowess can be matched by wisdom.
