Microsoft fuels Israeli war machine

International Desk Published: 23 January 2025, 09:11 PM
Microsoft fuels Israeli war machine
A woman looks for salvageable items following Israeli bombardment at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on June 22, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. —AFP photo

Leaked documents have unveiled how Microsoft intensified its collaboration with the Israeli military during the Gaza offensive, providing cloud technology and artificial intelligence (AI) systems to support military operations.

The files, obtained through an investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, reveal that Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform and AI tools played a pivotal role in aiding Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF). The investigation draws on leaked documents from Israel’s defense ministry and Microsoft’s Israeli subsidiary, as well as interviews with Israeli defense and intelligence officials.

Expanded role during the Gaza offensive

After the October 2023 escalation in Gaza, the IDF faced unprecedented demands for storage and computing power. To meet these needs, it turned to major US tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.

Microsoft reportedly struck $10 million in deals with Israel’s defense ministry between October 2023 and June 2024. These agreements included 19,000 hours of technical support and consultancy services to assist various IDF units, including elite intelligence divisions like Unit 8200 and Unit 9900.

Azure’s cloud infrastructure was utilized across Israel’s air, ground, and naval forces, as well as its intelligence directorate. Sensitive projects, including population registry management systems in the West Bank and Gaza, target banks for airstrikes, and surveillance operations, relied heavily on Microsoft’s technology.

AI and advanced tools in warfare

The leaked files reveal a surge in the IDF’s use of Microsoft’s AI-powered tools, particularly during the first six months of the war. By March 2024, the IDF’s monthly consumption of Azure’s machine learning tools had increased 64-fold compared to pre-war levels.

These tools included AI-powered translation, speech-to-text conversion, and advanced data analysis systems. A significant portion of these services operated on “air-gapped” systems disconnected from public networks, suggesting their use in highly classified tasks.

Microsoft also facilitated the IDF’s access to OpenAI’s GPT-4 model through Azure, despite OpenAI’s prior restrictions on military use of its products. In early 2024, OpenAI quietly revised its policies to remove explicit bans on military applications, coinciding with a spike in the IDF’s consumption of its tools.

Broader implications

The findings highlight the growing reliance of modern militaries on private-sector tech giants. In Israel’s case, this partnership has enabled the deployment of advanced AI-driven systems, such as The Gospel and Lavender, which assist in target recommendations.

While Microsoft, OpenAI, and Israel’s defense ministry declined to comment on the investigation, the revelations have drawn scrutiny in the US, where tech workers have protested the use of their products in military operations accused of violating international humanitarian law.

Context and evolving partnerships

Microsoft’s ties with the IDF deepened after it lost a $1.2 billion public sector cloud contract in 2021 to Amazon and Google’s Project Nimbus. Despite this setback, leaked documents suggest the company maintained strong relationships with Israeli defense officials, positioning itself as a key partner for sensitive military projects.

The IDF’s reliance on cloud services reflects a broader shift toward integrating commercial technology into military operations. As Col. Racheli Dembinsky of the IDF’s central computing unit Mamram noted, cloud providers offer a "crazy wealth of services," significantly enhancing operational effectiveness.

Ethical concerns and global reactions

The revelations raise questions about the ethical responsibilities of tech companies involved in military conflicts. OpenAI, for instance, publicly prohibits the use of its technology for developing weapons or harming others, yet its tools have become integral to Israel’s military operations.

As Microsoft and other tech giants continue to expand their roles in defense and intelligence sectors, their involvement in high-stakes conflicts like Gaza underscores the blurred lines between civilian and military digital infrastructure.

The disclosures shed light on the pivotal role of US-based technology in shaping modern warfare, sparking debates about accountability and the future of tech-military collaborations.

Source: The Guardian