‘Bomb Gaza’ Apps Yanked From Google Store
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
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.
“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.”
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