Did You Know That Israel Uses the Sounds from Drones as Psychological Warfare?

In Gaza, the Israeli military has employed a new and disturbing tactic to further terrorize the already besieged Palestinian population: using the sounds of drones to induce psychological trauma and terror. These drones, often equipped with recordings of women screaming, babies crying, and gunfire, are deployed at night to intentionally disturb and disorient civilians. This is not an accidental consequence of genocide but a deliberate tool designed to break the spirit of the Palestinian people.

The Nuseirat refugee camp, home to over 30,000 Palestinians, has been a particular target of these psychological assaults. Eyewitnesses recount how the silence of the night is shattered by the terrifying sounds emanating from Israeli drones. These sounds, which include the desperate cries of women and children, have been reported by numerous residents who were lured outside in hopes of helping those they thought were in danger. Once outside, they found no one, only to be met with gunfire from Israeli quadcopter drones, which were waiting to strike.

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, a Geneva-based organization, documented these tactics, confirming that the Israeli army uses drones to broadcast these horrifying sounds with the sole intent of terrorizing civilians. This psychological warfare tactic is aimed not only at spreading fear but also at forcing people into the open, where they can be more easily targeted by snipers and other weaponry. It is a tactic designed to break the will of the people, leaving them constantly on edge and unable to feel safe, even in their own homes.

Weaponizing Fear: The Psychological Toll on Civilians

For the residents of Nuseirat and other areas in Gaza, the fear induced by these drones is omnipresent. A 60-year-old woman recounted hearing loud gunfire, followed by the heart-wrenching screams of women calling for help. She knew these were recordings, a trick of the Israeli drones, yet the terror was no less real. Others were not as fortunate in their realization. A young man from the camp shared his experience of hearing desperate pleas for help, stepping outside to assist, only to narrowly escape being shot by a drone. Two people beside him were not so lucky, suffering serious injuries as the result of this targeted trap.

But the terror goes beyond these specific moments. The residents of Gaza endure the unrelenting torture of constant noise, with drones buzzing overhead day and night. This omnipresent noise, known locally as zanana, deprives people of any sense of normalcy or peace. The drones are always there, watching, waiting, and making sure the residents never experience a moment of quiet. For many, the psychological toll of never having silence, of always hearing the buzzing drones, is akin to a form of torture.

The inability to sleep due to the persistent noise is a common consequence. Gazans describe endless sleepless nights as the sounds of drones reverberate through their homes, leaving them exhausted, anxious, and unable to rest. The psychological trauma caused by this constant noise cannot be overstated—it is designed to wear people down, break their spirits, and leave them in a perpetual state of fear and exhaustion. This is not just psychological warfare; it is a deliberate tactic meant to destroy the mental health of an entire population.

Drones as Instruments of Occupation and Genocide

Drones are a cornerstone of Israel’s broader strategy to dominate and subjugate the Palestinian population in Gaza. While these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are often used for surveillance and airstrikes, their role as tools of psychological warfare is less known but no less devastating. The constant buzzing of drones is a reminder to Gaza’s residents that they are under occupation, watched from above at all times. This relentless surveillance not only denies them privacy but strips them of their sense of safety and autonomy.

The use of drones in this way is part of Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people. The psychological toll of hearing these drones, day and night, has been compared to the effects of torture. The unpredictability of when and where these drones will strike, or what terrifying sounds they will broadcast next, creates a state of total helplessness among the people of Gaza. The constant noise is a deliberate attempt to ensure that no one can relax, sleep, or escape the overwhelming sense of fear. The unrelenting buzzing overhead serves as a constant reminder of their vulnerability, disrupting daily life and destroying any semblance of normalcy.

Key Facts:

• Israeli drones have been used to broadcast recordings of screams, gunfire, and crying babies, intentionally designed to terrorize civilians in Gaza.
• Eyewitnesses from the Nuseirat refugee camp reported being lured outside by these sounds, only to be met with gunfire from Israeli drones.
• The psychological toll of these tactics has left Gaza’s residents in a constant state of fear, unable to escape the persistent threat of drones hovering overhead.
• The unrelenting buzzing sound from drones deprives civilians of sleep, leading to severe anxiety and exhaustion.
• International human rights organizations, including Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, have condemned these acts as clear violations of international law, contributing to Israel's broader genocidal strategy.

A Tool of Genocide: Systematic Terrorization

The use of drones as instruments of psychological warfare is part of Israel’s broader genocidal campaign to forcibly displace and eradicate the Palestinian people. By combining physical violence with psychological terror, the Israeli military ensures that no one in Gaza can feel safe, even in moments of relative silence. The psychological trauma inflicted by these drones has long-term consequences, with many Gazans reporting severe anxiety, insomnia, and feelings of helplessness.

The international community cannot continue to ignore these war crimes. The deliberate terrorization of civilians through psychological warfare is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and human rights conventions. The use of drones in this way is not just about controlling a population—it is about systematically destroying their mental health, their sense of community, and their will to resist. These are the tactics of a genocidal regime, and the world must act to hold Israel accountable.

The people of Gaza are not just fighting for their lives; they are fighting for their humanity in the face of an occupation that seeks to strip them of both. The constant buzzing of drones overhead is a reminder of that struggle, a relentless assault on their very existence.