Amazon (AWS)

Category: Challenging

Global technology company whose AWS division provides cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli government and military through Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract that cannot be cancelled even during human rights violations.

HQ: USA Website Updated: 8 Jan 2026

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Decision-Maker Directory

Key individuals with influence over corporate partnerships and procurement decisions. Direct your correspondence to the most relevant role.

Andy Jassy
Chief Executive Officer, Amazon
Responsible for overall corporate strategy. Recipient of 1,700+ employee petition regarding Project Nimbus
Public contact: Via Amazon investor relations
Matt Garman
Chief Executive Officer, Amazon Web Services
Leads AWS operations including government cloud services. Appointed AWS CEO June 2024
Public contact: Via AWS corporate communications
David Zapolsky
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Oversees legal affairs including government contracts and compliance
Public contact: Via Amazon legal department

Material Risk Framing

Frame your message around business risks. These talking points resonate with corporate stakeholders and institutional investors.

Reputational

Project Nimbus contract has triggered sustained employee protests (50+ firings), public demonstrations at AWS Summit events, and negative media coverage from major outlets including The Guardian, The Intercept, and Time Magazine

Financial

Talent retention risk as material concern - over 1,700 employees signed petition to CEO Andy Jassy. Employee activism affects recruitment in competitive tech labour market

Legal

Contract prohibits Amazon from denying services even during human rights violations. Significant legal exposure given ICJ's finding of 'plausible' genocide with 'real and imminent risk' of irreparable harm (January 2024)

Operational

Contractual requirement to provide services to Israeli weapons manufacturers Rafael and IAI creates ongoing complicity in documented military operations

Product Alternatives

Ethical replacements tagged by what matters to you: cost, quality, ethics, sustainability, or local sourcing. Make the switch today.

Enterprise Cloud Providers

Alternative cloud computing platforms without documented military contracts with Israel

OVHcloud

Global

European cloud provider with data centres across EU

French-headquartered cloud provider. Strong data sovereignty credentials. No known Israeli military contracts.

More Ethical Local Supplier

Hetzner

Europe

German cloud and dedicated server provider

German-owned, competitive pricing. Popular with European developers and SMEs.

More Ethical Cheaper Local Supplier

DigitalOcean

Global

Developer-friendly cloud platform

US company but no known Israeli military contracts. Simpler, developer-focused platform.

Direct Match Cheaper

Consumer E-commerce Alternatives

Ethical shopping alternatives to Amazon's retail platform

Ethical Consumer Shop Guides

UK

UK ethical shopping research and alternatives

Research-based ethical ratings. Guides to alternatives across product categories.

More Ethical

Bookshop.org

UK/US

Online bookstore supporting independent bookshops

Certified B Corp. Supports local independent bookshops with each purchase.

More Ethical

Local Independent Retailers

Global

Shop directly from local businesses

Support local economy. Often competitive when including shipping time and returns.

More Ethical Local Supplier

Comparison Legend

Direct MatchClear substitute for the same product/service
CheaperLower cost option
Better QualityProven superior performance/reliability
More EthicalAvoids human rights, labour, or environmental harm
SustainableStronger eco credentials (materials, energy, lifecycle)
Local SupplierSupports domestic/regional economy instead of Israel
Palestine-FriendlyExplicitly supportive or aligned with justice for Palestine

Strategic Analysis

In-depth assessment of the company's position, vulnerabilities, and recommended approaches for effective engagement.

CHALLENGING PRIORITY TARGET MONITORING TARGET Strategic Vulnerability → Severity → Severity: 8.5, Vulnerability: 5.5

High severity, lower vulnerability — requires long-term divestment pressure

Learn about our methodology — companies are categorised based on severity (harm potential) vs strategic vulnerability (campaign leverage).

Why do these scores change?

Unlike static boycott lists, our targeting model is dynamic. This company's position on the matrix is re-evaluated continually as we verify new contracts, divestments, or policy changes. Your reporting directly impacts this score.

Amazon represents one of the most strategically significant boycott targets due to its infrastructure role in Israeli military operations through Project Nimbus. Unlike consumer boycotts, pressure on Amazon/AWS operates through B2B channels: employee activism, enterprise procurement decisions, and government contract scrutiny.

Key Leverage Points

  • Service Denial Prohibition: Contract language preventing Amazon from refusing services even during human rights violations creates exceptional legal and reputational exposure
  • Mandatory Arms Manufacturer Services: Contractual requirement to serve Rafael and IAI weapons manufacturers establishes direct complicity chain
  • Employee Activism: No Tech for Apartheid campaign demonstrates sustained internal pressure with 50+ firings creating martyrs and media attention
  • Talent Retention Risk: In competitive tech labour market, association with documented military operations affects recruitment
  • Enterprise Customer Sensitivity: Major AWS customers including governments and corporations face ESG and procurement compliance requirements

Evidence Summary

The +972 Magazine investigation (July 2024) confirmed IDF use of AWS for 'endless storage' of intelligence on 'nearly everyone' in Gaza. This was publicly acknowledged by an Israeli army commander at the 'IT for IDF' conference. The Intercept's investigation revealed that Project Nimbus contractually binds Amazon to serve Israeli weapons manufacturers Rafael and IAI, with internal documents confirming continued service throughout 2024-2025 as Israel conducted military operations.

The Guardian's October 2025 exposé revealed that Amazon agreed to implement a coded 'winking mechanism' to secretly notify Israeli officials when complying with foreign legal demands for data, potentially circumventing legal protections in multiple jurisdictions. This contract structure, combined with the ICJ's January 2024 finding of a 'plausible' genocide case with 'real and imminent risk' of irreparable harm, creates significant legal exposure for enterprise customers using AWS services.

Engagement Strategy

Focus pressure through three channels: (1) Enterprise procurement - leverage ESG requirements and legal counsel concerns to drive customer enquiries to AWS about Project Nimbus; (2) Employee solidarity - support No Tech for Apartheid campaign and amplify voices of workers who have faced retaliation; (3) Government scrutiny - encourage public sector customers to assess compliance implications of using infrastructure tied to documented military operations. The goal is not consumer boycott but institutional pressure on AWS's government and enterprise business relationships.

Recognising Systemic Challenge

Amazon (AWS)'s products are integrated into the global economy and are often a critical part of the infrastructure of modern life. For many, immediate total boycott may not currently be feasible, least of all product usage in the workplace. This does not grant them immunity. We focus pressure on changing Amazon (AWS)'s behaviour to comply with International Law.

Your Role: We ask industry professionals and enterprise clients to challenge specific agreements from the inside. Use your status as a stakeholder to demand ethical boundaries. We aren't asking you to delete your account today; we're asking you to help cut their military contracts tomorrow. Join our volunteer network to contribute your expertise.

Evidence & Sources

Verified sources including NGO reports, regulatory filings, and primary documents. Use these to substantiate your correspondence.

News
2025-10-24
The Intercept: Amazon business with Israeli bomb-makers continues

Internal financial data shows Amazon consistently provided software to Rafael and IAI throughout 2024 and 2025, as Israel bombed Gaza

Open source
News
2024-10-30
The Guardian: Project Nimbus 'winking mechanism' revealed

Leaked documents show Israel requested coded payment system to secretly notify officials when Amazon/Google complied with foreign data requests, bypassing legal gag orders

Open source
News
2024-07-10
+972 Magazine: IDF confirms AWS cloud usage for Gaza operations

Israeli army commander publicly confirmed use of Amazon Web Services for storing surveillance data on Gaza's population. Multiple intelligence sources described army-Amazon cooperation as 'particularly close'

Open source
News
2024-05-01
The Intercept: Contract ties Amazon to Israeli arms firms

Investigation reveals Project Nimbus contract requires Amazon to sell cloud services to Rafael and Israeli Aerospace Industries, two leading weapons manufacturers

Open source
Report
2024-04-23
Al Jazeera: Project Nimbus explainer

Comprehensive overview of the $1.2 billion contract, military involvement, and employee protests

Open source
News
2024-04-18
Time: Google workers revolt over Israel contract

Exclusive report on No Tech for Apartheid campaign, employee sit-ins, and subsequent mass firings. Over 200 Google employees closely involved in organizing

Open source

Updates & Milestones

  1. 'Winking mechanism' documents leaked

    The Guardian publishes leaked documents revealing Israel requested coded payment system to covertly notify officials of foreign data requests

  2. IDF publicly confirms AWS usage

    Israeli army commander confirms at 'IT for IDF' conference that military uses AWS cloud storage for Gaza operations, including surveillance data

  3. AWS Summit disrupted

    No Tech for Apartheid activists disrupt Amazon Web Services Summit to protest Project Nimbus contract

  4. Sit-in protests and mass firings

    Employees occupy Google Cloud CEO's office at NYC and Sunnyvale locations. Nine charged with trespassing, 50+ employees fired across both companies

  5. Google engineer fired for protest

    Google Cloud engineer Eddie Hatfield fired after shouting 'I refuse to build technology that empowers genocide' at company event

  6. 1,700 employees petition Andy Jassy

    Amazon employees petition CEO warning company is 'bolstering the artificial intelligence and surveillance capabilities of the Israeli military'

  7. Military cloud usage dramatically increases

    Multiple sources confirm Israeli military dramatically increased use of AWS and Google Cloud services following October 7, moving operations to cloud due to system crashes

  8. AWS acquires Annapurna Labs

    Amazon Web Services acquires Israeli microelectronics company Annapurna Labs for approximately $350-370 million, establishing significant Israeli operations

  9. Employee concerns surface

    Anonymous letter from Google and Amazon workers opposes Project Nimbus, citing concerns about potential surveillance and human rights abuses

  10. Project Nimbus contract announced

    Israeli Finance Ministry announces $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with Amazon and Google to provide services to 'the government, the defense establishment, and others'

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