Recent months have seen a marked increase in the IDF’s tactical deployment of drones, particularly modified commercial models. According to accounts from ground personnel, these drones—commonly produced by companies such as China-based Autel Robotics—are being adapted to carry and drop grenades. Soldiers involved in these operations described flying the drones using tablet interfaces and joysticks, often targeting rooftops or outdoor areas in neighborhoods marked by ongoing evacuations. “We see movement, and then we drop,” noted one soldier familiar with dispatch procedures. While Autel has officially stated it does not authorize sales to military end-users and is reviewing reports of IDF use, an Israeli weapons distributor confirmed that they continued importing these drones via third-party arrangements. Legal challenges are underway to clarify the channels through which the hardware has entered the conflict zone.

Separately, drones have figured in several high-profile attacks near humanitarian zones. On July 19, near a food distribution point in Khan Younis, Palestinian health officials reported that IDF ground troops opened fire on crowds awaiting aid, deploying both tank-mounted weaponry and drone systems. The incident left 26 dead and over a hundred wounded. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman stated that the attack was under investigation. Eyewitnesses claimed that machine gun fire came simultaneously from both ground vehicles and aerial devices overhead, pointing toward coordinated use of drone-integrated platforms in these assaults.

These battlefield dynamics are also linked to Israel’s defense technology sector. According to executives in the military startup sphere, the war in Gaza has accelerated the roll-out of next-generation drone capabilities, including loitering munitions and surveillance systems driven by artificial intelligence. Companies have reportedly been able to test new systems in active combat zones, leading to real-time software and hardware enhancements. “Gaza is a product development arena,” one founder remarked, referring to drones like the Spike Firefly, which are now regular fixtures in urban operations.

While these accounts shed light on the use of drone technology by Israeli forces, none of the available reporting makes reference to Meta or to advertising practices tied to drone use. For analysis of that specific angle, retrieval of the original Guardian article is required.