Israel has recently intensified the use of suicide drones in Gaza, particularly to directly target specific individuals, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Israeli military resumed its air and ground operations in Gaza on March 18, 2025, after negotiations to extend the ceasefire failed, targeting many of Hamas senior leaders.
Suicide Drones in Gaza
According to field sources, Israel is increasingly deploying suicide drones in targeted strikes, most notably against individuals. Over four days, at least 9 suicide drones exploded in various areas across the Strip. Most of these drones hit targets inside displacement shelters, the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Although Israel deployed these drones on a limited scale since the beginning of the war, it has expanded their use in recent days against Hamas leaders and prominent figures, as well as some government employees.
The sources reported an increase in suicide drone activity in Gaza’s sky across several areas in the Strip, suggesting Israeli plans to intensify their use in the coming days.
What are Suicide Drones?
Suicide drones, also known as kamikaze drones or loitering munitions, are a type of aerial weapon system designed to carry explosives, crash into a target and explode, according to CNN.
Suicide drones have many advantages. They are cheap, small, portable, can be easily launched, hard to detect and can be fired from a distance. The kamikaze drones have played a significant role in the Russia-Ukraine war, demonstrating their potential as a game-changer.
Increased Role in Gaza War
Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military has expanded the use of suicide drones in its military operations in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.
In February 2024, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor issued a report stating that the Israeli military has been using small drones (or quadcopters) to fire directly at Palestinians, killing and injuring many of them. These operations primarily target unarmed civilians in shelter centers, hospitals, streets, and populated residential areas.
The Euro-Med Monitor added that the Israeli military is using small suicide drones equipped with machine guns and missiles from the Matrice 600 and LANIUS categories. These systems are capable of automatically searching buildings and creating maps to identify possible targets; carrying lethal or non-lethal payloads; and conducting a variety of missions for military personnel and special forces.
In March 2025, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israel’s Defense Ministry was planning to purchase thousands of suicide drones for the Israeli army to use in Gaza. According to Haaretz report, the Ministry in February issued a tender for 5,000 First-person view (FPV) drones, some of which will be equipped with thermal cameras for nighttime targeting.
Resumption of War in Gaza
The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The Gaza war has so far claimed the lives of more than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
A three-phase ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect on January 19, 2025. The first phase, during which Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and 8 bodies in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, expired on March 1.
However, negotiations to move forward with the ceasefire second phase collapsed and Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in the Strip, killing hundreds of Palestinians and displacing others.
Ceasefire Stalemate
Since then, negotiators have been making proposals to reach a compromise to restore ceasefire, release the remaining hostages and end the war in Gaza, but their efforts have so far proved futile.
Israel has intensified its military operations in the Gaza Strip, vowing to seize large parts of the enclave to pressure Hamas to release hostages and disarm. Moreover, the Israeli government imposed a blockade on the delivery of food, fuel and humanitarian aid, leaving Gaza’s population in dire humanitarian conditions.
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