By Abdul-Qader Badawi – Madar Center: After Google and Amazon: Microsoft Deploys Open Ai’s GPT-4 in Service of the Israeli Military in the War on Gaza!
Over the years, Israel has adopted various methods to manage the population in the occupied territories. Recently, this strategy has increasingly relied on technological and digital tools, which now serve as central instruments for monitoring and tracking Palestinians in Mandatory Palestine.
These technologies are no longer mere auxiliary mechanisms; rather, they have evolved into primary tools within a broader strategy that integrates cyber surveillance, biometric recognition—including facial recognition technologies—and artificial intelligence systems for data collection, analysis, and behavioral profiling using advanced algorithms.
The objective has been to consolidate security-military, political, and social control over Palestinians, reinforcing the colonial system’s upper hand.
Since October 7, 2023, reports and investigative journalism suggest a dramatic escalation in the use of technological and digital means as part of an unprecedented military campaign.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools have been increasingly leveraged to process vast amounts of new and historical data, feeding into a “target bank” developed over years but now operating at a highly automated level, enabling mass killings at speeds beyond human capabilities—what has been referred to as a “mass assassination lab.”
This article is part of an extensive academic publication—currently under review—analyzing the deployment of advanced technological means in the military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the complicity of major global technology companies.
Here, we will specifically examine the involvement of the multinational American corporation Microsoft, which has faced internal protests since the early months of the war.
Azure and GPT-4 in Service of the Israeli Military
Earlier this year, leaked documents obtained by The Guardian revealed Microsoft’s active participation in the Israeli war on Gaza, supplying cloud-based and artificial intelligence tools to meet growing demand.
A joint investigation by The Guardian, Siha Mekomit, and 972+ Magazine uncovered transactions worth at least $10 million, including thousands of hours of technical support services.
The Israeli security apparatus—particularly the Air Force, Navy, and Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman)—has relied heavily on Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure, for managing user files and communications.
During the first six months of the genocide, the Israeli military’s consumption of Azure services surged by 60% compared to the preceding four months.
Furthermore, the military deployed the “Rolling Stone” system—supported by Azure—to maintain records on Palestinian citizens and track their movements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In addition to Azure’s advanced cloud services, Microsoft granted the Israeli military access to OpenAI’s GPT-4, particularly for intelligence units such as Unit 8200 and Unit 9900.
These units utilized the tool for translation, speech, and text analysis in complex operations, aiding in the processing of massive datasets derived from extensive surveillance. By March 2024, the military’s consumption of AI tools had increased 64-fold.
Lackluster Investigation and Admission of Assistance in Hostage Rescue Efforts
Microsoft has faced mounting protests under the “No Azure for Apartheid” campaign, which peaked during the company’s 50th-anniversary celebration in April.
In response, Microsoft terminated two engineers who protested the company’s involvement in the war in Gaza.
Despite reaffirming its commitment to “ethical use” policies, Microsoft maintained that it has a “limited vision” of how its technologies are deployed by its customers.
However, following significant pressure from pro-Palestinian employees and activists, the company acknowledged for the first time that it provided technological services to the Israeli military during the war.
In an official statement, Microsoft emphasized that its relationship with the Israeli government was “purely commercial” and that its technologies are subject to acceptable use policies and AI ethical guidelines, which prohibit harmful applications.
According to Microsoft, the company conducted an internal investigation—allegedly with the assistance of an independent external firm—to assess the use of its technologies.
After interviewing dozens of employees and reviewing internal documentation, the investigation found no evidence of Microsoft’s technology being used to harm civilians in Gaza.
However, the company admitted to providing “emergency support” to the Israeli government post-October 7, aiding Israel’s efforts to rescue hostages from the Gaza Strip.
Microsoft asserted that it could not verify how its technology was used on private servers or in local environments, denying any direct operational support for military purposes.
The company claimed that each request for assistance was subject to individual review, with some approvals and rejections, purportedly considering privacy concerns and the rights of civilians in Gaza.
The Expanding Role of Global Tech Corporations in Modern Warfare
The extent to which major global technology companies are implicated in military conflicts is becoming increasingly apparent.
These corporations may not merely provide indirect support but could be active partners in enabling modern warfare through artificial intelligence tools and digital technologies.
The Israeli military’s growing reliance on AI-driven systems and software underscores this reality.
Rising internal protests within technology firms, along with employee testimonies and investigative journalism from human rights organizations and research centers, are expected to expose further details of these corporate partnerships in the coming months.
Such revelations challenge the industry’s claims of “innovation for the betterment of humanity,” raising urgent ethical questions about the role of technology in global conflicts—and whether technological advancements are being exploited to fuel wars, profits, and geopolitical agendas, particularly within colonial frameworks.
This report, by Abdul-Qader Badawi, was published in Arabic, on May 19, 2025, By The Palestinian Forum For Israeli Studies – Madar Center
