Microsoft has launched an internal review into how Israel’s Unit 8200 has been using its Azure cloud platform, following reports that the military intelligence unit leveraged the service for large-scale surveillance and operational planning against Palestinians.
The Guardian, working with +972 Magazine and Local Call, reported that Unit 8200 stored millions of intercepted Palestinian phone call recordings on Microsoft servers. The investigation also alleged that the technology helped coordinate airstrikes and guide military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Sources say Microsoft’s senior executives are now examining whether local teams disclosed the full extent of the agency’s activities. While the company has not yet initiated a formal, large-scale investigation like the one conducted earlier this year, it is actively collecting and verifying new information.
A Microsoft spokesperson stressed that the company takes the allegations seriously and will act if the findings require it. Earlier, Microsoft stated it had no knowledge of any civilian surveillance conducted through its services, citing results from an independent review.
The reports also claim Microsoft engineers built advanced security layers for servers holding Unit 8200’s data. According to The Guardian, roughly 11,500 terabytes sit in Microsoft’s Dutch facilities, with a smaller amount stored in Ireland. Some of that data may belong to other Israeli defense branches.
Public reaction escalated when the Dutch activist group Geef Tegengas climbed onto the roof of Microsoft’s Middenmeer data center to demand the removal of Israeli intelligence data. The 14-hectare facility in North Holland remained operational during the protest.
Dutch foreign minister Caspar stated that credible evidence of criminal activity could trigger legal proceedings. Microsoft confirmed it had reported the incident to police and is working with law enforcement while maintaining uninterrupted services. The company also affirmed its support for the right to peaceful assembly.
