Google Removes "Bomb Gaza" Game From Play Store After Outrage
Update: Google removed the Bomb Gaza game from its Play Store on Monday after it sparked criticism on social media. The game allows players to pilot an Israeli fighter jet attacking "terrorists" in Gaza.
Google removed the controversial Bomb Gaza game from its Play Store on Monday after a barrage of negative reviews and outraged comments on social media, NBC News reported.
"We remove apps from Google Play that violate our policies," a Google spokesperson told NBC News. Google Play's policies prohibit "depictions of gratuitous violence" and "content advocating against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion".
Bomb Gaza is a game for Android that was uploaded to the Google Play store on 29 July.
The game involves piloting an Israeli air-force jet over a densely built area of Gaza and attempting to bomb "terrorists".
It quickly becomes apparent that it is almost impossible to avoid bombing civilians, who are in the same buildings as the terrorists firing rockets at the Israeli jet.
There are no specific instructions on how to play the game but it is almost impossible to do without inadvertently killing civilians.
Reviews are not entirely positive.
Although some are.
People took to Twitter to express outrage against the game and Google.
How have @Google allowed a game like this (called BOMBGAZA) to be published on their playstore?! https://t.co/PTVKc4x3oF (H/T @MazMHussain )
Shivam Manghnani@shivamLMFollow
How have @Google allowed a game like this (called BOMBGAZA) to be published on their playstore?! https://t.co/PTVKc4x3oF (H/T @MazMHussain )
11:03 AM - 04 Aug 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm just disgusted at this!!! There is a "Bomb Gaza" game in the Google Play app store https://t.co/VRQ3lfyFST #SaveGaza #ShameonGoogle
Sarah McAllister@SarahJMcAFollow
I'm just disgusted at this!!! There is a "Bomb Gaza" game in the Google Play app store https://t.co/VRQ3lfyFST #SaveGaza #ShameonGoogle
11:24 AM - 04 Aug 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
https://t.co/BwI7BgDlfW Unbelievable!!!! This is just disgusting and vile. How are GOOGLE allowing this to stay on for almost a week??!!
Fawwaz @FawwazChowdhuryFollow
https://t.co/BwI7BgDlfW Unbelievable!!!! This is just disgusting and vile. How are GOOGLE allowing this to stay on for almost a week??!!
10:52 AM - 04 Aug 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Google Play's approval process? Non-existent. So games like Bomb Gaza (it's real) get through. http://t.co/su0V6cNOwN
@ElliottClarkson@ElliottClarksonFollow
Google Play's approval process? Non-existent. So games like Bomb Gaza (it's real) get through. http://t.co/su0V6cNOwN
10:56 AM - 04 Aug 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Some rather tasteless cretin created a 'Bomb Gaza' game and it's in the Play store https://t.co/aoBE9n9NL5
Jonathan Keane@J_K9Follow
Some rather tasteless cretin created a 'Bomb Gaza' game and it's in the Play store https://t.co/aoBE9n9NL5
10:49 AM - 04 Aug 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
The email address associated with the developer of the game suggests he is an Israeli.
When BuzzFeed contacted him to ask what motivated him to make the game he replied: "The truth!"