2014 Israel–Gaza conflict in video games

During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, authors sympathetic to both of the sides released video game apps on the Google Play store concerning the conflict. The themes and content of the games caused controversy, and several were removed.

Pro-Israeli apps

A screenshot from Bomb Gaza

Bomb Gaza was an app released on 29 July 2014 and was downloaded between 500 and 1,000 times before being removed for Google Play on 4 August.[1] Its logo was an F16 fighter jet, as used by the Israeli Defense Forces, and its description was to "drop bombs and avoid killing civilians".[2] The app's maturity setting was set at low, which made it available to younger users.[3] Bomb Gaza was also playable on Facebook before being removed by 5 August,[4] although the site retains a page which describes the game as "very addictive and fun".[5]

Other games on Google Play included Gaza Assault: Code Red, which described itself with “Terrorist cells are launching rockets into your country, do you have what it takes to protect your citizens?”, and the player controls an Israeli drone.[2] There was also Whack the Hamas, in which the player fights members of Hamas. Its description was "The Hamasites are coming out of their tunnels! Don't let them escape, otherwise they will hurt innocent civilians!" The game claimed to be "inspired by the operation 'Tzuk Eitan'.", an Israeli name for the conflict, often translated to Operation Protective Edge in English.[2] Both were removed by 5 August.[4]

Iron Dome Missile Defense was released by Simon Rosenzweig on 30 July to Apple's App Store, and involves the player using Israel's Iron Dome to defend a city from an unnamed "enemy".[4] Rosenzweig did not name this "enemy" deliberately, stating "I wish not to see apps that support hate in any way".[5]

Pro-Palestinian apps

Title screen of Rocket Pride

Rocket Pride was developed by Best Arabic Games. Its description is "supporting heroes besieged in the Gaza Strip from an oppressive occupier" by "controlling the resistance missiles and hitting the objectives assigned to them" through outmanoeuvring the Iron Dome.[4] The game was removed from Google Play on 5 August.[5]

Gaza Hero and Gaza Defender were still live on Google Play as of 5 August. In the former, which begins with a screen saying "curse Israel", the player taps Israeli soldiers to turn them into food and medicine, while in the latter the player shoots down aircraft.[5]

Reaction

A Google spokesman said that although the corporation does not comment on specific apps, it "remove[s] apps from Google Play that violate [their] policies."[1] These policies ban apps that advocate "against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin", or are threatening.[5]

Amnesty International UK said that the apps were "in highly questionable taste" and that players "should consider closing their war games app and instead read about real life right now in Gaza City, Rafah or indeed in southern Israel."[4]

Chris Doyle, the Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding said of the games “You can have video games that deal with war, but when you base it in a reality of a conflict that’ going on right now it’s extremely problematic. It’s in very, very poor taste and it doesn’t create a culture of peace - and we need to, more than ever before.”[2] He added "Google, Facebook or any other company that host such games, should be reviewing their policies and making absolutely all efforts to ensure that such games are not hosted on their platforms."[4]

Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, said "It is both deplorable and dangerous to glorify Israelis killing Arabs or Arabs killing Israelis."[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Withnall, Adam (4 August 2014). "'Bomb Gaza': Users call on Google Play to remove game that lets users carry out Israeli air strikes on Palestinians". The Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sparkes, Matthew (4 August 2014). "Bomb Gaza: the 'disgusting' games on Google's app store". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Parkinson, Hannah Jane (4 August 2014). "Google removes 'Bomb Gaza' mobile game from online app store". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Gaza-Israel video games cause controversy". BBC News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Google pulls more Gaza-Israel games from Android store". BBC News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
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