Google Play store offers 'Bomb Gaza' mobile game

Google’s app store is currently selling a mobile phone game in which players pretend to be the Israeli military bombing Gaza, it was discovered on Monday.

Bomb Gaza, which is designed for Android phones and tablets, has been downloaded up to 1,000 times since its release on 29 July 2014, according to app store data. Its stated aim is to “drop bombs and avoid killing civilians”.

Seemingly designed to offend, the game reflects the real-life conflict in Gaza in which at least 1,800 Palestinians have been killed. Many comments on the game’s review section express outrage that the game is being given a platform by Google, though some also defended Israeli positions.

Utterly shameful. Real people, many of them children, are dying in Gaza. Many of those who haven’t been killed face life with debilitating injuries, bereavement and without homes. Their suffering is as real as yours or mine, and to make light of it like this speaks of your essential failure as a human. Shame on the creators of this game, and those who ‘play’ it.

– George Coote

WTF There is ongoing conflict in which people are dying and you seem to find it acceptable to make a game of it. That’s fucked up.

– William Howgate

Users angry with the game’s availability. Photograph: Google Play

Its maturity setting – designed to protect younger gamers from harmful content – is listed as ‘low”, which means younger players would be encouraged to play it.

The developer, PLAYFTW, describes “an improved performance” in a second release of the game which mentions the addition of “Israel’s theme music”.

Many people called upon Google to take the game down swiftly, and pointed users in the direction of the Report button.

Please take this off the play store. It is offensive and I am really let down that Google actually allowed this. If this game isn’t removed I’m starting a Google boycott. – Oma Al

Bomb Gaza is not the only title on the Android store which references the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. There is also a game named Gaza Assault: Code Red (with a five star rating) and Iron Dome, based on Israel’s controversial US funded missile defence system.

Gaza Assault: Code Red game. Photograph: Google Play

The Guardian has contacted Roman Shapiro, the developer responsible for PLAYFTW’s titles, which also include a piano playing game and a Space War simulation.

Google has also been contacted for comment.

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