DJI

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Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Ltd. , is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. DJI manufactures commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for aerial photography and videography. Since October 2023, commercial drones manufactured by the Chinese company DJI have been extensively and intensively deployed by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. Used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and direct attacks, these devices are retrofitted from their civilian specifications to transform them into armed, lethal quadcopters. Although DJI is categorized as a manufacturer of drones dedicated to commercial and civilian purposes (such as photography and agriculture), human rights reports and journalistic investigations have uncovered an organized, systematic pattern of military utilization of these devices in operations within Gaza. Modification of Civilian Frameworks: The Israeli military modifies civilian cargo and imaging drones, such as the DJI Agras agricultural models, to drop explosives and bombs onto shelter centers and hospitals. Surveillance and Tactical Reconnaissance: High-resolution cameras on these drones are used to track and film civilians inside their homes. Investigations indicate they are also used to monitor Palestinian detainees, who are allegedly forced to act as human shields to scout buildings before soldiers enter. Weaponized Guidance Systems: The military connects these quadcopters to guidance systems to fire live ammunition and projectiles directly at fleeing civilians or those attempting to return to check on their homes, resulting in thousands of casualties. Historical Context and Crowd Control Technologies DJI UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are also utilized by the Israeli military, police, and private Israeli companies for surveillance and crowd control in occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. In 2018, Israeli media reported that the Israeli company Ispra developed the Cyclone riot control system to fit onto DJI drones. The Cyclone system is specifically designed to be installed on UAVs to dispense tear gas onto protesters. On March 30, 2018, this technology was deployed by the Israeli military against protesters in Gaza taking part in the Great March of Return, which marked the 42nd anniversary of Land Day. Supply Chain and Distribution in Israel: The Israeli Ministry of Defense cannot purchase drones directly from DJI due to its status as a Chinese corporation. Instead, procurement is conducted through local Israeli distributors. Hobbiz Ltd. serves as the official representative and distributor of DJI in Israel. Technicians and lab employees at Hobbiz Ltd. undergo specialized training provided directly by DJI. In addition, there are three other registered distributors of DJI products operating within Israel: LOOL TV, Bug Multisystem Ltd, Benda Magnetic.