{"id":302389,"date":"2025-01-24T08:30:41","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T08:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=302389"},"modified":"2025-01-25T06:37:54","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T06:37:54","slug":"revealed-microsoft-deepened-ties-with-israeli-military-to-provide-tech-support-during-gaza-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=302389","title":{"rendered":"Revealed: Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yuval Abraham and Harry Davies \u2013 The Guardian Jan 23, 2024<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Israeli military\u2019s reliance on Microsoft\u2019s cloud technology and artificial intelligence systems surged during the most intensive phase of its bombardment of Gaza, leaked documents reveal.<\/p>\n

The files offer an inside view of how Microsoft deepened its relationship with Israel\u2019s defence establishment after 7 October 2023, supplying the military with greater computing and storage services and striking at least $10m in deals to provide thousands of hours of technical support.<\/p>\n

Microsoft\u2019s deep ties with Israel\u2019s military are revealed in an investigation by the Guardian with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and a Hebrew-language outlet, Local Call. It is based in part on documents obtained by Drop Site News, which has published its own story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The investigation, which also draws on interviews with sources from across Israel\u2019s defence and intelligence establishment, sheds new light on how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) turned to major US tech companies to meet the technological demands of war.<\/p>\n

After launching its offensive in Gaza in October 2023, the IDF faced a sudden rush in demand for storage and computing power, leading it to swiftly expand its computing infrastructure and embrace what one commander described as \u201cthe wonderful world of cloud providers\u201d.<\/p>\n

As a result, multiple Israeli defence sources said, the IDF has become increasingly dependent on the likes of Microsoft, Amazon and Google to store and analyse greater volumes of data and intelligence information for longer period.<\/p>\n

The leaked documents, which include commercial records from Israel\u2019s defence ministry and files from Microsoft\u2019s Israeli subsidiary, suggest Microsoft\u2019s products and services, chiefly its Azure cloud computing platform, were used by units across Israel\u2019s air, ground and naval forces, as well as its intelligence directorate.<\/p>\n

While the IDF has used some Microsoft services for administrative purposes, such as email and file management systems, documents and interviews suggest Azure has been used to support combat and intelligence activities.<\/p>\n

As a trusted partner of Israel\u2019s defence ministry, Microsoft was frequently tasked with working on sensitive and highly classified projects. Its staff also worked closely with the IDF\u2019s intelligence directorate, including its elite surveillance division, Unit 8200.<\/p>\n

In recent years, documents show, Microsoft has also provided the Israeli military with large-scale access to OpenAI\u2019s GPT-4 model \u2013 the engine behind ChatGPT \u2013 thanks to a partnership with the developer of the AI tools which recently changed its policies against working with military and intelligence clients.<\/p>\n

Microsoft declined to comment on the findings of the investigation or answer questions about its work for the IDF. An IDF spokesperson said: \u201cWe won\u2019t comment on the subject.\u201d \u200bI\u200bsrael\u2019s defence ministry also declined to comment.<\/p>\n

The disclosures about Microsoft\u2019s deep ties to the IDF and the integration of its systems in the war effort illustrate the growth of private-sector involvement in hi-tech warfare and the increasingly blurred distinctions between civilian and military digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n

In the US, commercial ties between Israel\u2019s military and big tech groups are coming under increasing scrutiny and have sparked protests<\/a> among tech workers<\/a> who fear products they build and maintain have enabled a war in Gaza in which Israel stands accused of grave violations of international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n

However, in a war that has become known for the IDF\u2019s application of novel systems on the battlefield \u2013 including AI-driven target recommendation tools such as The Gospel<\/a> and Lavender <\/a>\u2013 the role played by major US-headquartered tech companies to support Israel\u2019s operations in Gaza has, until now, largely remained out of sight.<\/p>\n

A deepening partnership<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In 2021, after Microsoft failed to secure a $1.2bn deal to overhaul Israel\u2019s public sector\u2019s cloud computing infrastructure, its executives looked with envy at Amazon and Google, which had joined forces to win the sprawling contract, known as \u201cProject Nimbus\u201d.<\/p>\n

Although undoubtedly a blow to Microsoft\u2019s business in Israel and its place as the IDF\u2019s premier cloud provider, documents suggest the company took comfort from indications from Israeli defence officials that it would continue to enjoy a strong partnership with the military.<\/p>\n

Executives were hopeful the relationship would continue to grow, thanks in part to the integration of the company\u2019s technology and services in the most complex and secretive parts of the IDF\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n

The leaked documents illustrate how the US tech behemoth supported a range of sensitive activities, including:<\/p>\n