’Israel’ Turns to Facial Recognition to Restrict Palestinian Access to Aid

By Staff, Agencies

The "Israeli" entity has approved a scheme allowing the use of advanced facial recognition technology to "screen" the Palestinians in need of humanitarian aid.

Media reports said "Israeli" cabinet members had agreed to slap new restrictions on the distribution of humanitarian aid and food supplies to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, including mandatory facial recognition.

“Palestinians would be coming to these places, registered and screened through facial recognition technology. They’d pick up parcels for their family,” news outlets NPR reported, citing an "Israeli" official.

“It’s actually part of a bigger strategy to get Palestinian civilians to move en masse to a smaller, more consolidated area of Gaza so that the military can expand the territory that it’s taking over in Gaza,” added the report.

A Sweden-based human rights group strongly slammed the plan, noting that it is a "dangerous shift from traditional humanitarian organizations to for-profit companies controlling aid distribution."

The New York Times had reported earlier this year that the "Israeli" entity was already using facial recognition technology purchased from private "Israeli" company Corsight, as well as Google Photos.

However, the "Israeli"-made technology failed to do its job, the NYT report added.

The United Nations has condemned the latest "Israeli" move, criticizing the added restrictions against the Palestinians.