Google That Did Not Learn the Lesson

By Ayman Okeil

I was not surprised by the information circulated in 2025 regarding Google’s provision of various technical services to the Israeli occupation army during its war in the Gaza Strip. These services included analyzing vast amounts of data, processing satellite images, and intelligence information obtained by Israeli security services, as well as identifying potential targets on the ground in Gaza. Additionally, Google provided quick and accurate map drawings of these potential targets based on intelligence data.

Examining Google’s cooperation with the Israeli government before October 7, 2023, reveals even more troubling facts. In 2023, the Company fired 50 employees who opposed the $1.2 billion Nimbus project, a partnership between Google and the Israeli government signed in May 2021. These employees expressed concerns that the project would lead to the use of the company’s technologies for security purposes, potentially resulting in human rights violations. In April 2024, the Company dismissed another 28 employees for similar objections. In response to the backlash, Google claimed it was standing firm in its position, alleging that employees had occupied workplaces, threatened colleagues, and prevented others from working. Despite 100 employees signing a petition urging the Company to reassess its involvement in the project, their concerns went unheeded. Returning to the recent information, it appears that Google has not learned its lesson and remains intent on deepening its cooperation with the Israeli government, even if this contradicts the Company’s publicly stated policies. Google claims on its website to be guided by internationally recognized human rights standards, including a commitment to respect the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its subsequent treaties. This includes adherence to the nine core human rights treaties and support for the standards in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. However, the reality seems starkly different.

Moreover, according to credible information, Israeli Ministry of Defense expressed a desire to expand its use of Google services, emphasizing the strategic importance of technology in fulfilling defense needs. This development appears to please Google, suggesting that cooperation may extend beyond its current scope. The most alarming aspect of the circulating information is the potential transformation of technology companies into tools of conflict, akin to arms manufacturers. This shift could contribute to the loss of thousands of civilian lives—individuals who may unwittingly use the company’s services and contribute to its profits. Therefore, Google must distance itself from these conflicts.