IDF system system has enabled deadly airstrikes and military operations in Gaza and the West Bank
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Image: Shutterstock via Dennis
An investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call has uncovered a disturbing system used by Israeli military intelligence. The system uses Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to store and analyse intercepted Palestinian phone calls on a massive scale. Operational since 2022, the system can process up to 1 million calls per hour and has played a key role in supporting military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The investigation reveals that this partnership was established following a 2021 meeting between Israeli intelligence commander 8200, Yossi Sariel, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The vast storage capacity of Azure has enabled Unit 8200 to build a powerful mass surveillance tool capable of collecting and storing recordings of millions of daily mobile phone calls from Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Leaked documents and interviews with sources from Microsoft and Israeli military intelligence have shed light on how Azure is used to store this enormous archive of Palestinian communications.
According to three sources from Unit 8200, the cloud-based storage platform played a crucial role in preparing deadly airstrikes and organising military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Leaked documents and insider information indicate that the system stores about 11,500 terabytes of intercepted communications, equivalent to roughly 200 million hours of phone calls.
This cloud-based system, developed by Sariel, was often used in combination with AI-driven target recommendation tools, which were also developed under her leadership. These tools were deployed during a military campaign that resulted in significant civilian casualties and worsened the humanitarian crisis.
In response to the report, Microsoft said it was not aware of civilian surveillance or the collection of phone calls using its services. The company emphasised that its involvement with Unit 8200 was focused on strengthening cyber security and protecting Israel against cyberattacks by nation states and terrorists.
A spokesperson for the Israeli military said the cooperation with Microsoft was based on legally supervised agreements. However, Israel is facing increasing international condemnation for its devastating war against Gaza, which since October 2023 has claimed the lives of more than 61,100 people. The ongoing military campaign has devastated the enclave and pushed it toward famine.
In November 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also the subject of a genocide charge at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
It is claimed that data centres based in Ireland were used for the storage of data gathered for military purposes.
Commenting to The Journal Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said it was “beyond appalling” that “a key part of Israel’s genocidal operations is being prepared and processed on Irish soil”.
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