Microsoft acknowledged on Thursday, May 17, 2025, that it had provided advanced artificial intelligence and cloud computing services to the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The company also revealed that it had assisted in efforts to locate and rescue Israeli hostages held by Hamas. In a statement on its corporate website, Microsoft said it had conducted an internal review and hired an external firm to investigate how its technologies were being used by the Israeli military.
Microsoft’s Involvement in the Conflict
The Associated Press had previously reported that Microsoft’s Azure platform was being used by the Israeli military to process intelligence gathered through mass surveillance. This information was then cross-checked with Israel’s AI-enabled targeting systems. Human rights groups have expressed concerns that these AI systems, which can be flawed and prone to errors, are being used to make decisions about targeting, potentially resulting in civilian casualties.
Services Provided to the Israeli Military
Microsoft stated that it had provided the Israeli military with Azure cloud storage, Azure AI services including language translation, and professional services. The company also revealed that it had given “special access to our technologies beyond the terms of our commercial agreements” and “limited emergency support” to help rescue the over 250 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Microsoft claimed that it had implemented “significant oversight” and had approved some requests while denying others.
Concerns and Criticisms
The company’s statement did not directly address questions about how the Israeli military was using its technologies, and Microsoft declined to comment further. Human rights groups and some employees have raised concerns about the potential misuse of Microsoft’s technologies. A group of current and former Microsoft employees, known as ‘No Azure for Apartheid,’ called for the company to publicly release the full investigative report, suggesting that the statement was a PR stunt to improve the company’s image.
Expert Reactions
Emelia Probasco, a senior fellow at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology, noted that Microsoft’s statement was significant because it clearly outlined the company’s standards for working with governments in conflict zones. Cindy Cohn of the Electronic Frontier Foundation welcomed the step towards transparency but expressed concerns that many questions remained unanswered, particularly regarding the use of Microsoft’s services on Israeli government servers.
Broader Implications
Microsoft is not the only tech company involved with the Israeli military; Google, Amazon, and Palantir also have extensive contracts for cloud or AI services. The situation highlights the complex ethical considerations faced by technology companies working with governments in conflict zones.
