Unit 8200 and Microsoft Azure: reported call-surveillance system
Alleged: Reported or claimed; not established in the public record.
On 6 August 2025 the Guardian, with Israeli-Palestinian media partners, reported that Unit 8200 used Microsoft’s Azure cloud to store recordings of mobile phone calls by Palestinians. On 25 September 2025 the Guardian reported Microsoft’s Brad Smith saying the company had “ceased and disabled a set of services to a unit within the Israel ministry of defense”.
Documented
Microsoft’s statement of disabling services is documented. The IDF said its work with companies is under “legally supervised agreements” and later that Microsoft “is not and has not been working with the IDF on the storage or processing of data”.
Claimed, disputed or not established
The scale and purpose of the system are as reported by the Guardian from leaked documents and sources. The IDF’s two statements differ in emphasis and are quoted as given.
Sources (opened in a new tab)
- The Guardian: Microsoft and Israeli military phone calls (6 Aug 2025) ↗https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/06/microsoft-israeli-military-palestinian-phone-calls-cloud
- The Guardian: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology (25 Sep 2025) ↗https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/microsoft-blocks-israels-use-of-its-technology-in-mass-surveillance-of-palestinians
Connected
- Section: Israel
- Agencies: Unit 8200
- Case board · Timeline (2025) · Document vault