Gaza Conflict
The Israeli military’s operations in Gaza have increasingly relied on advanced technologies provided by major tech firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, according to reports by 972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language news site Local Call.
These technologies are reportedly being used to support Israel’s military actions amid the ongoing conflict, which has seen substantial civilian casualties and widespread devastation in Gaza.
Major General Racheli Dembinsky, commander of the Israeli Army’s Center of Computing and Information Systems Unit, disclosed during a presentation on July 10 that the army has been utilizing cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) tools from these tech giants.
This presentation, attended by around 100 military and industrial personnel, marks the first public acknowledgment of this technology use.
Dembinsky highlighted that the Israeli military’s internal cloud infrastructure, referred to as an “operational cloud,” is supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
This infrastructure is described as a “weapons platform,” incorporating applications for targeting, live drone footage, and command and control systems.
The use of cloud services has become crucial for the Israeli military due to the massive amount of data generated and processed during its operations.
Following Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza in late October 2023, the army’s internal systems faced significant strain, leading to technical issues due to the influx of new users.
Cloud services have provided a solution by offering scalable storage and advanced AI capabilities without the need for physical server space within military centers.
Reports reveal that AWS has been particularly instrumental in storing vast amounts of intelligence gathered from Gaza, including data from mass surveillance operations.
This intelligence is reportedly used to support various military actions, including aerial strikes. The extensive use of cloud services has enabled the Israeli army to manage and analyze large volumes of data efficiently, significantly enhancing operational effectiveness.
The reliance on these technologies follows the signing of a $1.2 billion contract known as Project Nimbus in 2021, which was aimed at transitioning Israeli government ministries to cloud services provided by Google and Amazon.
Despite protests from employees and calls to sever ties with the Israeli military, both companies have continued to provide services under this contract.
Since the onset of the recent conflict, there has been a notable increase in the procurement of cloud services from Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure.
Amazon’s aggressive pricing and competition with Microsoft have further cemented its role as a primary provider of cloud services to the Israeli military.
The extensive data storage capabilities offered by these services have proven critical in the ongoing conflict, allowing the Israeli military to maintain a substantial operational advantage.
While Google and Microsoft have declined to comment on their involvement, AWS has emphasized its commitment to providing its cloud technology to all customers.
The use of these technologies in the context of military operations highlights the complex intersection of technology and warfare, raising questions about the ethical implications of tech companies’ involvement in conflict zones.
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