Leaked documents reveal close ties between Microsoft and Israeli military
Leaked documents indicate a significant partnership between Microsoft and the Israeli military, especially since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on 7 October 2023. Israel has become one of Microsoft’s key global partners, with technical support and consulting costs rising to about $10 million since the Gaza attacks began, according to Turkish website Anadolu Agency.
Documents obtained by Drop Site News suggest that Microsoft’s cloud services and AI tools are heavily used by the Israeli military. Use of cloud storage increased by more than 155% between June 2023 and April 2024, peaking just before the Rafah offensive in May 2024. Translation tools and Azure OpenAI account for nearly 75% of total military use.
The documents also reveal the potential use of AI-driven technologies such as Lavender, which analyses data from more than 2 million Gaza residents to identify possible Hamas connections. Initially, this system flagged about 37,000 Palestinians as ‘suspects,’ according to reports by +972 media, a news outlet based in Tel Aviv.
Microsoft’s involvement in Israel’s military operations appears to be part of a broader trend among technology companies seeking defense contracts in the ongoing conflict. The company has reportedly offered significant discounts to secure partnerships with Israeli defense forces, creating a ‘gold rush’ for tech companies in this sector.
Similar revelations about Google’s AI assistance to Israeli defense forces further underscore this trend. Although the total value of Microsoft’s contract with the Israeli Defense Ministry has not been disclosed, leaked documents show that it goes far beyond the reported support costs. The Israeli Defense Ministry declined to comment on the extent of its relationship with Microsoft when contacted by Anadolu.
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