Google Removes ‘Bomb Gaza’ Game From Play Store

Google Removes ‘Bomb Gaza’ Game From Play Store

Google removed Bomb Gaza from its Android Play store (the game was released on July 29) because it violated the company’s policies. The company has removed several other games related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent days, claiming they violate the Google Play store’s policies.

[info]Bomb Gaza, a game about doing precisely what its peremptory title commands, you play as the Israeli Air Force, tapping a touchscreen to pour red-nosed bombs into a 2D multi-level landscape filled with cartoonish people wearing white robes and clutching children — meant to signify civilians — as well as others draped in black, clutching rifles, touting greenish headbands and grinning maniacally. [/info]

Google’s Developer Program Policies document, it notes under a subsection titled Violence and Bullying that “Depictions of gratuitous violence are not allowed,” and that “Apps should not contain materials that threaten, harass or bully other users.” Under another titled Hate Speech.

[blockquote cite=”Developer”] This game was developed without any budget and more for fun, I was very surprised to catch such attention with it.
[/blockquote] [blockquote cite=”Goole”] We don’t allow content advocating against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity.
[/blockquote]

Politically-themed games about touchy current issues have been around for years, from depictions of deadly international situations.