Huan Qiu Wang·2025-09-26 01:44Core Points - Microsoft has confirmed that reports regarding the Israeli Defense Forces using its cloud services for mass surveillance of Palestinians are accurate, leading to the suspension of specific cloud and AI services for a department under the Israeli Defense Ministry [1][3][5] - This incident marks the first known case of a U.S. tech company withdrawing services from the Israeli military since the recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict [3] - Microsoft President Brad Smith stated that the company does not provide technology for mass surveillance of civilians and has found evidence supporting the reports [3][5] Company Actions - Microsoft has informed the Israeli Defense Ministry of its decision to stop and disable specific subscriptions and services, which includes halting the use of certain cloud storage and AI technologies [5] - The suspension of services will not affect Microsoft's cybersecurity offerings to Israel and other Middle Eastern countries [5] Context and Impact - An Israeli security official indicated that the operational capabilities of the Israeli Defense Forces have not been compromised by Microsoft's actions [6] - A prior investigation revealed that the Israeli military's 8200 intelligence unit relied on Microsoft Azure services to store millions of call records of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank [6]