Tel Aviv: High-resolution satellite images that can be accessed publicly through Google and Apple map services are revealing sensitive Israeli sites and military operations in Gaza, according to a report by Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth daily. These images include views of the Dimona nuclear reactor and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) activities in Gaza.
According to Anadolu Agency, the report highlighted that aerial images of the Dimona Nuclear Research Center, along with classified military bases, are now accessible via these mapping services. The images from Gaza also display IDF maneuvering units. The resolution of these images, reaching 0.4 meters, is significantly higher than what was previously available, making them a valuable resource for open-source intelligence.
The Dimona reactor, Israel's most prominent nuclear facility, was secretly constructed with French assistance in the late 1950s. Although Israel claims it serves civilian purposes, former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu exposed its nuclear weapons program in 1986, suggesting the production of nuclear warheads. Vanunu was abducted by Mossad agents in Italy in 1988, brought back to Israel, and sentenced to 18 years in prison for treason and espionage.
In 1997, the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment was enacted in the US, restricting the dissemination of high-resolution satellite imagery of Israel without federal approval. At that time, American companies dominated the commercial satellite imagery sector, and the amendment was a result of Israeli diplomatic efforts. However, the landscape has changed, with non-US satellite imagery surpassing American capabilities by 2017, allowing mapping services to access high-quality images from non-American sources.
For the past three years, obtaining high-resolution images of sensitive sites in Israel has become relatively easy. This includes the Dimona Nuclear Research Center and strategic bases. Satellite imagery has also captured Israeli military activity, such as F-15 aircraft over Gaza and Lebanon.
Yedioth Ahronoth noted that the Israeli government has limited control over the publication of such images by commercial entities, provided they comply with the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment. The report emphasized the proliferation of global online services offering satellite imagery for various commercial uses, which has led to the current situation.
In 2021, foreign sources reported significant construction at Dimona, an event previously deemed unimaginable. The newspaper highlighted the ongoing absurdity of the situation, as Israel remains the only regional state with an unmonitored nuclear arsenal while occupying Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese territories.
The Israeli Defense Ministry and military spokesperson declined to comment, with the newspaper suggesting that the government's approach of ignoring the issue has proven ineffective against security challenges in recent years.
The report coincides with ongoing tensions, as Israel has reportedly killed nearly 51,200 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, predominantly women and children. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.