Microsoft has disabled the Israeli Defense Ministry’s access to certain services after finding evidence it used the company’s Azure cloud platform to surveil Gaza citizens.

The move follows an internal investigation triggered by a Guardian report that Israel stored and monitored data on millions of Palestinian mobile phone calls.

Microsoft determined the ministry violated its terms of service by using cloud tools for surveillance, and the probe is ongoing.

Microsoft President Brad Smith emphasized the company’s commitment to privacy as a fundamental right and a core element of customer trust.

The Israeli Defense Ministry, prime minister’s office, and military have not commented on the matter.

Microsoft has historically provided Azure services, email, file management, and analytics tools to Israel, while continuing to support its cybersecurity efforts, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

The investigation specifically centers on a Microsoft data center in the Netherlands where the Defense Ministry’s data was stored.