Microsoft Technology Underpins Israeli Intelligence Operations in Palestinian Territories

Recent investigations by major international outlets—including The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call—have revealed how Israeli intelligence agencies have leveraged Microsoft’s cloud computing technology to conduct extensive surveillance on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This collaborative and covert effort has involved storing millions of intercepted Palestinian phone calls and other sensitive communications on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, fundamentally transforming Israel’s surveillance architecture.

The Role of Microsoft Azure

Unit 8200, the elite cyber-intelligence division of the Israeli military (comparable to the NSA in the United States), began migrating surveillance data to Microsoft’s Azure servers in 2022, after a secret meeting between then-Unit 8200 chief Yossi Sariel and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in 2021.

The system reportedly captures up to one million phone calls per hour and records everyday life across Palestinian territories. By mid-2025, over 11,500 terabytes (approximately 200 million hours of audio surveillance) had been uploaded to Azure.

Data is stored in European-based Microsoft servers, mainly in the Netherlands and Ireland, away from local military infrastructure, enabling mass storage and quick access for intelligence operations.

Surveillance Applications

Israeli intelligence uses the data to plan and justify airstrikes, arrest operations, and targeted assassinations. When authorities lack probable cause for an operation, analysts reportedly use intercepted communications to retroactively create justification.

The surveillance network is seen by internal Israeli sources as crucial for maintaining control over Gaza, especially in the aftermath of military offensives.

Microsoft also supplied artificial intelligence tools to bolster targeting efficiency. One such system flagged written content deemed suspicious, integrating into predictive arrest and assassination programs.

Corporate Accountability & Controversy

Microsoft claims non-involvement in using its technology to target or harm individuals, citing company policy that prohibits broad surveillance use. Nevertheless, leaked internal emails and meetings suggest direct cooperation—with senior executives calling the relationship “critical” and providing engineering resources to fortify Israel’s data operations.

The company faces internal scrutiny, activist pressure, and demands from employees for transparency. Microsoft has launched a formal internal review to assess whether its terms of service were violated and if its technology has been misused for mass monitoring Palestinians. Findings are promised to be made public.

Human rights organizations warn that Microsoft’s AI solutions, now used by militaries globally, pose ethical risks and could contribute to lethal targeting errors.

Investigations have brought to light the magnitude of Israel’s surveillance efforts on Palestinians—powered by one of the world’s largest technology companies. The integration of Microsoft’s Azure cloud and AI capabilities has not just facilitated mass data storage, but also directly enabled and enhanced military targeting, control, and offensive operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

While Microsoft maintains that it has not enabled harm, ongoing internal and external reviews underscore the growing challenges for tech giants implicated in controversial global security and surveillance programs.