Watan-Since October 7, 2023, Israel has escalated its warfare in Gaza using not only armed drones but also psychological tactics. According to multiple reports, Israeli quadcopter drones have broadcast recorded sounds of crying infants and women screaming for help to trick Palestinians into leaving shelters or homes—where they are then targeted.
These sound-based deceptions—such as a child yelling “I want my mother” or the cries of injured women—are designed to exploit civilians’ empathy and lure them into exposed areas. Eyewitnesses and human rights organizations have confirmed incidents across Gaza, including in camps like Nuseirat, where people were injured or killed after responding to these cries.
In January 2024, quadcopters were reported firing on hundreds of civilians gathering for food in Gaza City. The drones also emitted sounds of tanks, gunfire, and even familiar street vendor calls to create chaos and confusion.
Drones of Deception: The Psychological Toll on Gaza’s Civilians
Human rights groups have strongly condemned these tactics, calling them psychological warfare. According to Dr. Sanabel Akef Al-Akhras, a psychiatrist, such exposure—even to fake distress sounds—can result in severe psychological trauma, including PTSD, depression, panic attacks, memory loss, and more.
Children, in particular, are at risk of developing behavioral issues, speech delays, and a deep-seated distrust in safety and stability. Experts warn these methods could leave a generational psychological scar, much like in post-war Afghanistan, where communities developed a collective trauma from constant drone presence.
The drone-broadcasted sounds have become a haunting part of daily life in Gaza, causing sleep disruption, constant fear, and hyper-vigilance. Residents report a state of “wakeful sleep,” where rest is shallow due to the persistent noise of drones and jets overhead.
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