Israel has established a new military Space Division to expand its surveillance and warfare capabilities, raising questions about how the technology could be used against Palestinians amid its genocide in Gaza and continuing military occupation of the West Bank.
The Israeli military announced on Monday that Brigadier General "Shin", identified only by his first initial in Hebrew, had been appointed to command the division, which will operate under the military's Planning Directorate.
The new body will oversee space-related military operations, coordinate training and intelligence, and develop capabilities for what Israel increasingly regards as a separate arena of warfare.
The military said the division was established after it concluded that "the space domain has become an active combat domain" and would play an increasingly important role in future conflicts.
Welcoming the announcement on Tuesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the initiative as part of his ambition to transform the country into a major military space power.
"The goal set for the IDF and the defense establishment is to make Israel one of the world's leading countries in the field of space security," Katz said, describing the project as "Star Wars, made in Israel."
He said Israel wanted the "ability to monitor, defend and attack from space any target across vast areas", arguing that such capabilities would strengthen its military dominance and deter adversaries.
Satellite surveillance and the war on Gaza
However, the expansion also carries significant implications for Palestinians, who have long been subjected to Israel's extensive military surveillance and intelligence operations.
Israel already operates a network of military reconnaissance satellites whose imagery is processed by Unit 9900, a specialised military intelligence formation responsible for visual and geospatial intelligence.
The unit's work includes identifying military targets and providing intelligence to support Israeli operations, including attacks in Gaza.
Its capabilities form part of a broader Israeli intelligence infrastructure that has been deployed during the war on Gaza, where surveillance technologies and digital targeting systems have come under growing scrutiny over their role in attacks that have killed large numbers of Palestinian civilians.
Human rights organisations have raised serious concerns about Israel's use of digital intelligence and automated targeting technologies during the war, including the reliability of information used to identify suspected targets and the risks posed to civilians.
Human Rights Watch warned in 2024 that Israel's reliance on digital targeting tools in Gaza raised concerns about inaccurate data and the potential for unlawful attacks.
Although the precise responsibilities of the new Space Division remain unclear, an expansion of Israel's satellite intelligence capabilities could further strengthen the military's ability to monitor Palestinian territory, track movements and identify potential targets.
Such technology could also be used to monitor roads, border crossings, infrastructure and changes in the urban landscape across Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
There is no confirmation that the new division will directly oversee operations against Palestinians, but its establishment could consolidate capabilities already used by Israel's military intelligence services.
The distinction is significant because satellite surveillance is not merely a means of observing territory. When integrated with military intelligence and targeting systems, it can contribute directly to decisions about where and when strikes are carried out.
Expanding Israel's military reach
Israel has continued to invest heavily in reconnaissance satellites, including its Ofek series, which provide imagery for intelligence gathering and military planning.
Until now, responsibility for space-related operations, including satellite launches and ballistic missile defence, has largely rested with the Israeli Air Force, while Unit 9900 has controlled military intelligence satellites after their deployment.
The Israeli military has not clarified which responsibilities will be transferred to the new division.
According to the military, several projects involving space-based sensors and space warfare capabilities have already been approved over the past year.
A new frontier for warfare
Israel's announcement also reflects intensifying international competition over the militarisation of space, with the US, Russia, China and India developing technologies intended to protect their own satellites or disrupt those operated by adversaries.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit but does not comprehensively prohibit conventional military activities in space.
Israel has also identified Iran's developing space capabilities as a potential threat.
During its conflict with Iran in March, the Israeli military claimed to have destroyed a facility in Tehran involved in military satellite development, alleging that it was also working on technology capable of attacking satellites.
The claims could not be independently verified.
Alongside the Space Division, Israel announced the establishment of a new Robotics Division under its Depth Corps, which conducts operations beyond the country's borders.
Military chief Eyal Zamir has also outlined plans to expand the military's use of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, reflecting a wider effort to integrate advanced technologies into Israeli warfare.
The announcements come as Israel continues to expand its military capabilities despite mounting international scrutiny of its conduct in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
