Israeli Drones Employ Crying Baby Sounds To Lure Palestinians From Camps To Shoot Them Down

Israeli forces in Gaza have been using quadcopter drones to emit disturbing sounds, such as crying babies and women screaming, in an attempt to lure Palestinians from their homes into open areas where they can be targeted.

Maha Hussaini, from Euro-Med Human Rights monitor, told Al Jazeera, "In mid-April, we were informed that Israeli quadcopters were emitting bizarre sounds, including baby sounds or women screaming."

She recounted interviewing Palestinians in Nuseirat, where testimonies were consistent. The drones played "sounds of screaming women" to "lure citizens out of their homes and find someone to shoot," with hospital reports confirming these claims. Hussaini also mentioned incidents where people were injured after responding to the sounds, thinking they were coming from someone in distress.

One resident, Mohammad Nabhan, recalled hearing a woman scream "help" alongside a baby's cries. After realising the sounds were coming from a quadcopter, he warned his cousin not to fall for it. However, his neighbour, Abu Anas Al-Shahrour, went outside to help, only to be shot in the head.

Similar incidents have been reported across Gaza, Khan Younis, and the occupied West Bank, where drones have also broadcast sounds of children crying, "I want my mother," and threats warning Palestinians they "will die" if they resist.

Since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, Israeli forces have used quadcopters extensively for surveillance, targeted attacks, and crowd dispersal. In January, witnesses reported that drones opened fire on civilians gathering for food in Gaza City.

The drones have also been used to play songs in Hebrew and Arabic, mimic the sounds of tanks, and even imitate the calls of local vendors.

The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported nearly 45,000 deaths, with the entire population displaced due to relentless Israeli bombardment. Civilians are facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, and much of the infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, has been destroyed. The situation is worsened by overcrowded shelters, with the threat of disease spreading.

This psychological tactic has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights groups. The ICC has labelled the "General's Plan," allegedly designed to depopulate northern Gaza under the guise of fighting Hamas, a war crime, and has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.