Rights groups warn Microsoft over ties with Israeli military

Rights groups say Microsoft must end business activities that contribute to Israel’s military and governmental violations of human rights and international law.

In a letter sent privately to Microsoft — and recently made public — Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Access Now, and other human rights groups urged the company to take responsibility for its role in enabling Israel’s surveillance and military operations.

Media investigations in August 2025 by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call revealed that Israel’s military intelligence unit, known as Unit 8200, has been using Microsoft’s Azure cloud services to store and process vast amounts of intercepted phone communications from Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

On September 25, Microsoft stated that, following The Guardian’s report, it had suspended specific subscriptions and services used by the Israeli military, including access to certain cloud storage and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Deborah Brown, Deputy Director of Technology and Human Rights at one of the rights groups, said: “Microsoft has taken an important first step by limiting the use of certain technologies by an Israeli military unit involved in the repression of Palestinians. The company must now comprehensively review its business relations with Israeli authorities and ensure its cloud infrastructure, AI technologies, software, and hardware are not aiding or enabling Israel’s crimes against Palestinians.”

Microsoft said it plans to respond to the joint letter by the end of October, as it continues internal investigations and prepares its recommendations.

Experts argue that given the long-standing nature of Israel’s occupation and systematic oppression of Palestinians — and years of UN and NGO reporting on the risks of tech-sector complicity — Microsoft had ample reason to conduct serious human rights due diligence in its operations with Israeli authorities.

According to human rights reports, the Israeli military’s use of data-driven and AI-based systems for surveillance and targeting in Gaza raises grave concerns under the laws of war, especially regarding the distinction between civilian and military targets and the obligation to minimize civilian harm.

On September 26, six human rights organizations sent a joint letter to Microsoft, describing the suspension of certain Israeli military services as a positive step. They called on Microsoft to review all contracts with the Israeli army and other state bodies, suspend any product or service contributing to human rights violations, and terminate such relationships if evidence of complicity exists.

Human rights experts note that Israeli authorities have in recent years committed ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including destruction, apartheid, persecution, and genocide against Palestinians — in defiance of binding orders by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Media reports indicate that Israel’s mass surveillance system, supported by Microsoft Azure, holds millions of recorded phone calls. Sources from Unit 8200 say Israeli officials have used this data to identify bombing targets in Gaza, alongside AI-based targeting tools. In the West Bank, officials have allegedly used the same data for extortion, arbitrary arrests, or even post-incident justifications of killings. Microsoft confirmed that its internal investigation has found evidence supporting elements of The Guardian’s report.

Israel’s mass surveillance of Palestinians is well-documented and plays a key role in sustaining crimes against humanity — including apartheid and persecution. Israeli authorities have used widespread spying and forced data extraction to facilitate and accelerate other international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity (including extermination), and war crimes, notably indiscriminate airstrikes violating the laws of war.

Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians, including at least 20,000 children, and the destruction of most schools, hospitals, homes, and civilian infrastructure.

Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which Microsoft publicly endorses, companies are responsible for avoiding involvement in human rights abuses and addressing risks directly linked to their operations and business relationships. In conflict-affected contexts, where severe human rights violations are more likely, corporate due diligence must be proportionally heightened.

Microsoft has not publicly disclosed whether it has strengthened its human rights due diligence measures or taken steps to end relationships that may contribute to human rights violations.