With the October elections looming and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc trailing in the polls, far-right Israeli ministers have weaponized the machinery of occupation for campaign purposes. Rather than discussing policy, the act of oppression itself has become the primary campaign message, signaling a dangerous shift in Israeli political discourse.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has released a provocative AI-generated advertisement warning that he intends to apply the same settlement model used in the West Bank to the Negev and Galilee—regions with significant Palestinian populations inside Israel. Under the chilling slogan "Ahmed is right to be afraid," the ad explicitly targets the psychological security of Palestinian citizens.

Simultaneously, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has deployed AI videos depicting Palestinian prisoners as dehumanized figures on an assembly line. Ben-Gvir has further escalated tensions by publishing videos of himself berating female prisoners and planting Israeli flags on seized UNRWA facilities in occupied East Jerusalem, blatantly defying international norms.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that these are not isolated rhetorical excesses but a blueprint for governance. The integration of AI into hate speech at the ministerial level suggests that the Israeli right-wing is moving toward a formal policy of systemic intimidation. This strategy aims to normalize the erasure of Palestinian presence in contested territories to secure a nationalist electoral victory.

The transition from political rhetoric to AI-driven psychological warfare marks a new, darker chapter in the occupation's history.

On the ground in Gaza, the pretense of "targeted assassinations" has vanished. Recent strikes have claimed the lives of farmers in al-Qarara, delivery drivers on electric bikes, and children collecting water in the Tuffah neighborhood. On August 30, a strike near a bakery in Deir el-Balah killed three-year-old Tim Said Mahmoud Hamdan, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the current offensive.

The healthcare infrastructure is also under siege. A drone strike on a medicine warehouse at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital has left the facility without critical cancer medications. Furthermore, reports from Walla News indicate that the Southern Command views a full ground operation to reoccupy Gaza City as "unavoidable," planned for immediately after the October elections.

In the West Bank, the situation has devolved into what many describe as a pogrom. In villages like al-Mughayyir and Beita, Israeli soldiers and masked settlers have conducted joint raids, looting property and shooting residents. The NGO B’Tselem reports that such vandalism is now routine and carried out with the full backing—or active participation—of the Israeli military.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is AI being used in the Israeli election campaign?
Far-right ministers are using AI to create deceptive and threatening videos designed to intimidate Palestinians and appeal to hardline nationalist voters.

2. What is the reported plan for Gaza City?
The Israeli military leadership is planning a full reoccupation of Gaza City post-election, involving the forced evacuation of residents into designated 'humanitarian zones'.