Israel’s remote-controlled explosive robots terrorize Gaza with deafening blasts and psychological warfare
By isabelle // 2025-09-24
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  • Israel is deploying explosive-laden armored vehicles as remote-controlled psychological weapons to terrorize Gaza civilians with relentless, deafening blasts.
  • Residents report extreme trauma, sleeplessness, and physical pain from the shockwaves, describing the explosions as feeling like imminent death.
  • The strategy aims to force mass displacement by making life unbearable, with detonations timed to maximize fear and prevent rest.
  • Civilians are trapped between advancing Israeli forces and the Mediterranean, with aid blockades and systematic destruction cutting off all escape routes.
  • UN officials condemn the tactic as a war crime, yet Israel escalates attacks, signaling a classified third phase of even greater brutality.
The people of Gaza are being terrorized by a new weapon in Israel’s arsenal: decommissioned armored vehicles packed with explosives and detonated remotely. These “suicide APCs” are designed to instill fear, disrupt sleep, and shatter the psyche of civilians trapped in the besieged strip. Palestinian journalist Ahmed Dremly, based in Gaza City, described the experience as “the most terrifying noise in the world,” with blasts so powerful they shake homes kilometers away and leave residents in a state of constant dread. Dremly’s account, shared with Middle East Eye, reveals the deliberate psychological torment inflicted by these weapons. The explosions don’t just destroy buildings; they destroy peace of mind. “It feels like death—and yet you’re still standing, waiting for the next one,” he said. The blasts often come in rapid succession, particularly at dawn or in the early morning hours, ensuring no one sleeps. The sound is so overwhelming that Dremly resorts to opening his mouth to release pressure, bracing for the inevitable shockwave. “Your head throbs for hours. Something feels wrong inside you,” he explained.

A weapon of mass psychological destruction

Israel’s military has escalated its use of these explosive-laden robots as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots 2, a three-phase plan to “conquer” Gaza City. According to The Cradle, Israeli forces have tripled their deployment of these vehicles, which are stationed outside Gaza before being driven into urban areas and detonated. The goal isn’t just destruction; it’s displacement. Abdulwahhab Ismail, a resident of Gaza’s Saftawi neighborhood, told Mondoweiss that the Israeli army parks these robots near homes, waiting for fear to force civilians to flee. When they don’t, the robots are detonated anyway, regardless of who remains in the area. The explosions are so intense that they light up the night sky like a volcanic eruption. Dremly recalled seeing fire surge upward, turning darkness into day. “A scene straight out of a weapons test,” he said. The psychological toll is immense. Residents describe feeling as though their bodies might be torn apart by the force of the blasts. The Israeli military’s strategy is clear: make life unbearable, push people out, and flatten what remains.

Trapped between fire and the sea

As Israeli forces advance on Gaza City from multiple directions, civilians are being squeezed into an impossible choice: flee toward the coast or face the explosions. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli troops are “sandwiching” residents, pushing them westward toward the al-Rashid coastal road. The UN warns that Gaza City’s last lifelines are collapsing, with Israel systematically blocking aid deliveries. The result? A population starved, bombarded, and psychologically broken. The use of these suicide APCs isn’t just a military tactic; it’s a war crime. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned Israel’s “blatant disregard” for distinguishing between combatants and civilians. Yet the explosions continue, night after night, with no end in sight. This isn’t the first time Israel has employed such brutal methods. In August, Hebrew media reported that at least 100 booby-trapped robots were used in Gaza City alone between August 13 and September 3. The Israeli military’s own sources admit that Gaza has “never been hit like this before.” The second phase of the operation calls for a full occupation of the city, while the third remains classified, although reports suggest it involves “military capabilities that we have not yet seen.” For Gaza’s residents, the message is clear: there is no safe place. The suicide APCs, air strikes, and ground invasions ensure that fear is constant. Dremly’s harrowing description of the blasts—“like the world’s about to crack open”—captures the sheer terror of living under such conditions. The psychological warfare is working. People are fleeing, but to where? The entire strip is a killing zone. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net TheCradle.co AlJazeera.com
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