Microsoft Cloud Blockage Jeopardizes Evidence in Oct. 7 Defendant's Trial

Microsoft's decision to block Israeli security forces from accessing its cloud services has complicated a trial in the United States against Mahmoud Al-Mootadi, a Gazan accused of participating in the October 7th attacks. Al-Mootadi has requested the court halt the authentication process for six recordings used as evidence against him, as Israel can no longer access the original recordings. These recordings are of phone calls made by Al-Mootadi on October 7th. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) collected 50 recordings, forwarding six to the FBI for the investigation. However, a Shin Bet representative informed the FBI that Israeli authorities have been unable to access the original recordings since September 2025 due to Microsoft's decision to block access to the cloud server where the calls were stored.

Microsoft blocked Unit 8200's access to some of its cloud and AI services in September 2025, following a report by The Guardian newspaper. The report revealed that Unit 8200 had used Microsoft's cloud to store and analyze millions of phone calls collected in Gaza and the West Bank. In response, Microsoft launched an internal review and ceased relevant services to the unit. Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, stated at the time that the company does not provide technology for mass surveillance of civilians. Reports from that period indicated that Unit 8200 had anticipated the blockage and made additional backups of security materials stored in the cloud.

A security official told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that Israel had prepared for this move in the weeks prior and that Microsoft acted unilaterally. However, it has now emerged that in Al-Mootadi's case, Israel did not retain access to the original recordings. The defendant is seeking to exploit this difficulty to halt the authentication of the six recordings used against him. The court has not yet ruled on the request, and the admissibility of the recordings has not been determined.