The Thinking Muslim How Big Tech Feeds Israel’s War Machine | Ibtihal Aboussad
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Dec 5, 2025 Ibtihal Aboussad, a software engineer and activist, takes a bold stand against Microsoft for its role in enabling surveillance in Gaza. She shares her viral protest experience and highlights the company's use of Azure for targeting and surveillance. Ibtihal emphasizes the need for ethical tech practices and encourages building alternative Muslim tech ecosystems. She also discusses the importance of collective action within the Muslim community to oppose complicity in systems of oppression.
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How Azure Powers Targeting In Gaza
- Microsoft Azure's cloud, AI and storage functions combine to create a surveillance-to-targeting pipeline used by Israeli forces.
- Ibtihal Aboussad says this pipeline generates target lists and enables real-time strikes in Gaza.
Mass Phone Surveillance Enabled
- Microsoft reportedly provided customized storage solutions to Unit 8200 to store Palestinians' phone calls across all of Palestine.
- Ibtihal claims AI then analyses that data to locate and target individuals, even abroad.
AI Use Surged During The War
- Use of Microsoft AI by Israeli forces reportedly rose dramatically after October 2023, multiplying by 200 in the measured period.
- Ibtihal presents this as evidence of direct operational reliance on Microsoft's AI for targeting.