Microsoft Confirms Supplying AI to ’Israeli’ Military Amid Gaza Bloodshed

By Staff, Agencies

Microsoft has officially acknowledged that it provided artificial intelligence and cloud computing support to the "Israeli" military during its devastating war on Gaza.

In a blog post released Thursday, the tech giant admitted that its Azure AI platform, cloud storage infrastructure and professional support services were extended to "Israel" under special terms—beyond standard commercial agreements.

This marks the company’s first public confirmation of its involvement since the war began on October 7, 2023. Microsoft claimed the assistance was granted as “emergency support,” allegedly limited to efforts aimed at the recovery of captives. “We provided this help with significant oversight and on a limited basis,” the company said, insisting that some requests were approved while others were denied.

Microsoft argued that the decision was guided by its internal principles, asserting it had taken steps to "respect the privacy and other rights of civilians in Gaza." However, these claims stand in stark contrast to recent findings and growing concerns.

An investigation by the Associated Press revealed that the "Israeli" military’s use of Microsoft’s Azure services surged by nearly 200 times after October 7. These technologies were reportedly used to process mass surveillance data and potentially integrated into advanced AI systems for identifying targets—raising serious ethical and legal questions about their role in deadly operations.

Despite the scale of the revelations, Microsoft’s statement left many critical issues unresolved. The company confirmed that an external firm was hired for further fact-finding, but it has refused to name the firm or disclose its findings. It also claimed to lack visibility into how its tools were used on third-party cloud systems or private "Israeli" servers.

Since the beginning of "Israel’s" onslaught on Gaza and Lebanon, over 56,000 people—mostly women and children—have been martyred. Notably, in February 2024, an IOF assault on Rafah killed at least 60 Palestinians, while a June airstrike on the al-Nuseirat refugee camp killed at least 274, according to Gaza health authorities. Both massacres were carried out under the guise of “hostage rescue,” yet were widely condemned for the staggering civilian toll.

Microsoft defended its actions by citing compliance with its Acceptable Use Policy and AI Code of Conduct, claiming it found “no evidence” that its technologies were used unlawfully. Yet many remain unconvinced.

Critics argue the blog post was more about managing public perception than offering real accountability. “It’s very clear that their intention with this statement is not to actually address their worker concerns, but rather to make a PR stunt to whitewash their image that has been tarnished by their relationship with the ‘Israeli’ military,” said Hossam Nasr, a former Microsoft employee fired after organizing a pro-Palestine vigil.

An internal employee group, No Azure for Apartheid, has demanded full transparency and the release of Microsoft’s internal investigation. The group accuses the company of misleading the public and downplaying its role in enabling "Israel’s" atrocities.

Digital rights experts have also weighed in. Cindy Cohn, Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, noted, “I’m glad there’s a little bit of transparency here. But it is hard to square that with what’s actually happening on the ground.”

Others say Microsoft’s public stance reflects a broader shift in how tech companies interact with governments at war. “It’s like a tank manufacturer telling a country you can only use our tanks for these specific reasons. That is a new world,” said Emelia Probasco, senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

Microsoft joins a growing list of US-based tech companies—including Google, Amazon and Palantir—that are known to be providing AI and cloud infrastructure to the "Israeli" military, deepening concerns about Silicon Valley’s complicity in "Israel’s" ongoing war crimes.