In a surprising revelation, Col. Racheli Dembinsky announced that the Israeli army is leveraging cloud services from tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft to supercharge its operations in Gaza. With the army’s internal systems overwhelmed by the conflict, these civilian cloud services have provided essential storage and powerful AI tools, greatly enhancing surveillance and targeting capabilities. However, this reliance on public cloud platforms has raised significant concerns about data security and the ethical implications of using civilian technology for military purposes. As the conflict unfolds, the integration of advanced tech into warfare highlights a new era where digital tools play a critical role in military strategy and raises questions about the balance between technological advantage and human rights.
On July 10, Col. Racheli Dembinsky, head of the Israeli army’s computing unit, made a stunning revelation at a conference near Tel Aviv. Speaking to a crowd of about 100 military and tech professionals, she confirmed that the Israeli army is using major tech companies’ cloud storage and AI services to aid their operations in Gaza.
Dembinsky’s presentation showed logos of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, indicating their involvement in storing and processing data for the military. She explained that while the army initially relied on its own internal cloud systems for managing operations, these systems became overloaded with the increased demands of the ground invasion in late October 2023.
To handle the surge in data, the army turned to civilian cloud services. These services allowed them to quickly access vast amounts of storage and powerful AI tools. Dembinsky highlighted how these tech giants provided crucial capabilities that significantly boosted the army’s effectiveness in Gaza.
Investigation by 972 Magazine has uncovered that the Israeli military has indeed been storing some of its intelligence data on AWS servers. This includes surveillance information gathered from Gaza’s residents. The cloud’s vast capacity has enabled the army to hold extensive data, including billions of audio files, which was critical for their operations.
The situation has raised questions about the involvement of major tech companies in military operations. In 2021, Israel signed a $1.2 billion contract with Google and Amazon for Project Nimbus, aiming to move government systems to these companies’ public clouds. This deal sparked controversy, with protests from employees of both companies over their involvement with the Israeli military.
Despite promises that only unclassified data would be uploaded to these public clouds, our investigation reveals that classified intelligence is also being stored and processed by these tech giants. The cloud services have provided the military with the ability to scale up their operations rapidly during the war, addressing issues like system overloads with ease.
Sources have disclosed that while most of the Israeli army’s intelligence on Palestinian military figures is kept on secure, internal servers, some critical data is stored on Amazon’s public cloud, AWS. This shift to the cloud has opened up a vast reservoir of information that the army is now tapping into for surveillance and operational purposes.
Since late 2022, Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate has been utilizing this AWS-based system for mass surveillance in Gaza. Initially not deemed crucial, it has become an essential tool as the current conflict escalated. The AWS cloud offers what’s described as an “infinite store” of data, providing extensive surveillance capabilities.
Though the primary intelligence remains on internal military servers, AWS has been used to supplement information for airstrikes. This has sometimes resulted in tragic outcomes, including civilian casualties. For instance, during the war, the cloud-based system helped identify targets within buildings crowded with refugees, influencing decisions to abort attacks to avoid further loss of life.
The cloud’s ability to store comprehensive data on a massive scale—referred to as having “information on everyone”—has been a significant advantage. Israeli intelligence sources describe how this capability has been crucial in situations where detailed information was needed about individuals not initially listed as surveillance targets.
In the past, the military would delete excess data to manage storage, but now, thanks to the public cloud’s vast capacity, the focus is on preserving all combat-related information. This shift has been driven by the cloud’s advanced artificial intelligence and processing power, which surpasses the military’s in-house capabilities.
The use of AWS and other cloud services has raised concerns about security and the handling of sensitive data. Former military procurement official Col. Avi Dadon noted that cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are highly motivated to work with the Israeli Defense Ministry. The partnerships are seen as not just financially beneficial but also as a showcase of their technology’s effectiveness.
As military needs have grown, so has the reliance on these tech giants. The upcoming Project Sirius, a more secure cloud for classified military information, reflects an ongoing effort to integrate advanced technologies into military operations while maintaining a high level of security. The public cloud’s role has highlighted the balancing act between operational efficiency and the risk of data breaches.
The increasing digitization of military operations, especially in conflicts such as the one in Gaza, marks a significant shift in how wars are conducted. Israeli sources have termed the current conflict as a “digital war,” highlighting the extensive use of technology and data analytics in military operations. This includes the use of encrypted smartphones, operational chat apps, and real-time mapping and targeting tools.
One example is Z-Tube, an internal app resembling YouTube, which streams live footage from military devices like UAVs. Another app, MapIt, allows for real-time target marking on interactive maps, and Hunter uses AI to analyze patterns and identify targets. These tools represent a leap from traditional combat methods, where decisions were made based on direct visual contact, to a more data-driven approach.
Concerns have been raised about the security and ethical implications of using civilian cloud services for military purposes. While cloud services from companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft provide advanced capabilities and scalability, they also pose risks of sensitive data exposure. These companies’ AI tools and cloud infrastructure are increasingly integrated into military operations, raising questions about the responsibility and oversight of their use.
Human rights advocates argue that cloud companies should ensure their technologies are not used in ways that violate international norms. The close relationship between the tech industry and military operations reflects a broader trend of militarizing civilian technologies, leading to ongoing debates about ethical standards and accountability in the digital age.
