Google removed from its app store a mobile game that simulates Israeli attacks on Gaza.
“Bomb Gaza,” which invites users to “drop bombs and avoid killing civilians,” was removed Monday from the Google Play after a public backlash, the Guardian newspaper reported.
In the game, developed by PlayFTW, players drop bombs from a fighter jet and dodge missiles from Hamas fighters.
“We remove apps from Google Play that violate our policies,” a spokesman for Google told Reuters without specifying which policy the game violated.
The game, which is still available on Facebook, has been downloaded about 1,000 times and generated angry comments on Facebook and Google Play app review pages since launching July 29, the Guardian reported.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the
terms
“Please take this off the Play store. It is offensive and I am really let down that Google actually allowed this,” Oma Al, a user, wrote on the game’s review page, according to the Guardian. “If this game isn’t removed I’m starting a Google boycott.”
“Bomb Gaza” is not the only mobile game on Google’s app store that references the Israel-Gaza conflict, the Guardian reported. Others include “Gaza Assault: Code Red” and “Iron Dome.”
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this