Microsoft is under increasing pressure following reports that its Azure cloud platform has been linked to Israeli military surveillance operations in Gaza. A joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call alleges that Israel’s elite Unit 8200 has been using Azure to store vast amounts of intercepted Palestinian phone calls, potentially aiding in the identification of bombing targets.
Sources from Unit 8200 claim the database collects millions of calls daily from Gaza and the West Bank, with intelligence reportedly used in military operations. These revelations have triggered internal unease at Microsoft, where some executives suspect that Israel-based staff may not have been fully transparent about the military’s use of the company’s technology.
In May, Microsoft completed a review of its military connections, concluding there was “no evidence” Azure had been used to harm people in Gaza—a finding partly based on assurances from its Israeli office. However, recent disclosures have cast doubt on the accuracy of that review. Leaked documents show multiple Microsoft employees working on Unit 8200 projects have served in, or are reservists of, the unit, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
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Despite growing concerns, Microsoft has not yet announced a new formal review. The company insists it takes the allegations seriously and will verify any new evidence before acting. Leaks also reveal Microsoft knew in 2021 about Unit 8200’s plans to store large volumes of classified intelligence on Azure, even helping to enhance security features, but denies knowing intercepted Palestinian calls were among the stored data.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that Microsoft is not involved in storing or processing its data, a claim that has surprised some within Microsoft given its known cloud contracts with Israel’s defence ministry.
In response, activist group No Azure for Apartheid has demanded Microsoft sever all ties with the Israeli military and fully disclose its dealings. Former Microsoft employee and organiser Abdo Mohamed accused leadership, including CEO Satya Nadella, of knowingly partnering with Israel in 2021 despite the risks, profiting from Palestinian suffering while concealing the extent of cooperation.
The investigation is ongoing, with Microsoft’s next steps still uncertain.
