Microsoft’s performative concern over Israeli use of cloud data against Palestinians

Microsoft is said to be engaging in a performative review of how Unit 8200, the Zionist regime’s military intelligence agency, is using Azure cloud storage. Current concerns suggest that staff in the occupied territories may have concealed key details about sensitive military projects.

Following a joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, which revealed that Unit 8200 has stored vast collections of intercepted Palestinian phone calls on Azure, senior Microsoft executives are now evaluating the data the unit holds on the platform.

Sources within Unit 8200 stated that the agency uses a custom, isolated section of Azure to store recordings of millions of daily calls in Gaza and the West Bank. Reports indicate that intelligence derived from this data has been used to identify bombing targets in Gaza.

The newly published investigation has triggered internal questions within Microsoft over whether some employees in the occupied territories have been fully transparent about their knowledge of Unit 8200’s work.

According to informed sources, Microsoft is now examining the nature of the data stored in its data centers and assessing how it may have been used by the Israeli military in its ongoing war on Gaza.

In May, Microsoft claimed that previous reviews had found “no evidence” that Azure was used to target or harm people in Gaza. However, recent discussions at the company’s U.S. headquarters have raised doubts about the accuracy of that conclusion.

Reports suggest that some executives have questioned whether employees managing military accounts might be more loyal to the Israeli military than to the company itself.

Leaked Microsoft documents show that several employees involved in Unit 8200 projects had previously served in the Israeli army’s signals intelligence Unit 8200, and had publicly disclosed this on their records.

Despite recent concerns, Microsoft has not yet launched another formal review of its engagements with the Israeli military.

Israeli military thanks Microsoft

Leaked files indicate that Microsoft’s senior management had been aware since early 2021 of Unit 8200’s plans to transfer large volumes of sensitive intelligence data to Azure — including the implementation of advanced security measures for military use.

However, Microsoft, claiming that its executives were unaware that Palestinian intercepted calls were stored on Azure, stated: “We have no insight into the customer data stored in our cloud environment.”

Following the publication of the investigation, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said: “We appreciate Microsoft’s support in protecting our cybersecurity. We confirm that Microsoft does not and has not cooperated with the Israeli military on data storage or processing.”

After the revelations, the workers’ group No Azure for Apartheid (Noaa) renewed its demands for Microsoft to end all military contracts with Israel and publicly disclose the nature of its existing ties.