Microsoft fires head of Israeli subsidiary and other managers over surveillance of Palestinians
Microsoft has dismissed Alon Haimovich, the general manager of its Israeli subsidiary, along with other managers, following an internal investigation into the company’s exposure to legal and ethical risks. The action represents a significant response to mounting pressure regarding the subsidiary’s involvement in surveillance operations.
The background stems from a 2025 investigation by The Guardian and +972 Magazine that documented Israel’s use of Microsoft Azure cloud services to store surveillance data collected in the occupied West Bank. The report raised serious concerns about Microsoft’s infrastructure being utilized for data collection in the territory, which international law considers illegally occupied.
Microsoft’s investigative team, which began its work last month, was specifically focused on examining whether the Israeli subsidiary exposed the company to legal liability, particularly in Europe. The investigation revealed sufficient concerns to warrant the removal of senior management from the division.
This decision reflects years of internal and external advocacy calling for corporate accountability regarding surveillance technologies and their application in geopolitically sensitive contexts. The removal of senior leadership indicates Microsoft took these concerns seriously enough to implement significant organizational changes, signaling the company’s effort to mitigate potential legal complications stemming from the subsidiary’s involvement in surveillance data storage operations.