Microsoft Blocks Israeli Forces’ Access to Cloud Services in Gaza

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News Desk: Microsoft has suspended certain services used by a unit of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) following allegations of surveillance on Palestinian civilians’ phone calls. The decision comes in response to a joint investigation by 972+ magazine and the Hebrew-language newspaper Local Call, Al Jazeera reported.

On Thursday (September 25, local time), Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith informed employees of the action. He stated that Israel’s military intelligence unit, Unit 8200, had stored extensive surveillance data on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, violating the company’s service terms. Specific cloud storage and AI services, along with some subscriptions linked to Israel’s Ministry of Defense, have been canceled.

The move abruptly ends a three-year surveillance program by the Israeli military. Investigations revealed that in 2021, Unit 8200 had signed an agreement with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to transfer sensitive intelligence data onto the Azure platform. Under this arrangement, the unit had permission to use nearly unlimited storage capacity on Azure to collect and analyze millions of phone calls of Palestinians.

Reports further indicate that this cloud-based system assisted Israel in carrying out deadly airstrikes in Gaza. In May, Microsoft admitted to selling advanced AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli military during the Gaza conflict but claimed internal reviews found no evidence that the technology was being used to target or harm individuals.

This marks the first time an American tech company has halted services to the Israeli military since the Gaza war began. However, the decision does not affect Microsoft’s broader commercial relationship with the IDF. According to a Microsoft employee, while the move represents an “unprecedented victory,” most of the company’s contracts with the Israeli military remain intact.