US Charity to Deploy AI in Gaza Schools to Detect Hate Speech

WHO:

ABC News - The charity involved is the Gaza Children Village, founded by Dr. David Hasan, a neurosurgeon born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents.

ABC News - Dr. David Hasan teaches at Duke University medical school in Durham, North Carolina.

ABC News - Palestinian rights groups and advocacy groups have expressed concerns about the charity's plans.

ABC News - Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian American political activist, is on the charity's board.

ABC News - Ines Abdel Razek is the co-director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy.

ABC News - Mohammad AbuAlrob is a spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority.

WHAT:

ABC News - The Gaza Children Village plans to use AI to monitor classroom conversations for "hateful" or "inciting" speech.

ABC News - The monitoring technology will analyze recordings of classroom conversations to detect "antisemitic," "inciting," or "hateful" language.

ABC News - If problematic language is detected, a warning will be sent to Dr. Hasan for context and feedback.

ABC News - The charity's schools, called Academies of Hope, provide meals and medical and psychological care.

ABC News - The first school opened last summer.

ABC News - The charity has raised money largely from individual donors, including American Jews.

WHERE:

ABC News - The charity operates in Gaza, specifically in central and southern Gaza.

ABC News - The charity's schools are referred to as Academies of Hope.

WHEN:

ABC News - The monitoring plans were outlined in a webinar last month.

ABC News - A 2026 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office examined "problematic textbook content" in Gaza.

ABC News - The charity plans to deploy the monitoring technology in dozens of classrooms.

WHY:

ABC News - The charity is concerned that teachers might stray from a curriculum that promotes peace and tolerance.

ABC News - Dr. Hasan aims to help train teachers to uphold a curriculum aimed at "de-radicalization."

ABC News - Concerns about surveillance technology are heightened in Gaza after three years of war.

HOW:

ABC News - The AI-powered system will analyze recordings of classroom conversations.

ABC News - Recordings will be stored for 72 hours before being analyzed.

ABC News - The monitoring technology was created in collaboration with PollyLabs, a New York-based nonprofit.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 07:17 UTC)

The Gaza Children Village, founded by neurosurgeon Dr. David Hasan, plans to implement AI technology to monitor classroom conversations for any "hateful" or "inciting" speech in their Academies of Hope located in central and southern Gaza. If problematic language is detected, a warning will be sent to Dr. Hasan for context and feedback, as the charity aims to uphold a curriculum focused on peace and tolerance amidst heightened concerns about surveillance technology following years of conflict. The monitoring system, developed in partnership with PollyLabs, will analyze recordings stored for 72 hours, and the charity has raised funds primarily from individual donors, including American Jews.