Google Funnels 32 Billion To Israel

Google’s $32 Billion Purchase of Wiz: Strategic Acquisition or Financial Pipeline to a Conflict Zone?

In a landmark deal that stunned the global tech industry, Google has announced its acquisition of cloud cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion—a record-breaking price tag that has ignited heated ethical, political, and economic debate. While the acquisition strengthens Google Cloud’s competitive position against Amazon and Microsoft, critics argue it may also funnel billions into Israel’s military-tech ecosystem amid ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza.

A Meteoric Rise—and a Monumental Price

Founded in 2020 by four veterans of Israel’s elite cyber intelligence unit, Unit 8200, Wiz quickly emerged as a major player in cloud security. The startup offers a streamlined platform that scans public cloud environments for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and malware—helping companies secure sensitive infrastructure across AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

Its rapid growth—reaching an estimated $350 million in annual recurring revenue in under five years—has been remarkable. Yet Google’s acquisition represents a nearly 91x revenue multiple, far surpassing standard valuation benchmarks. The company was last valued at $10 billion in 2023, raising critical questions: Why did Google pay more than three times that just two years later? And what exactly is being purchased beyond code and customers?

Unit 8200 and Israel’s Defense-Tech Nexus

At the heart of the controversy are Wiz’s roots in Unit 8200, a division of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) often compared to the U.S. NSA. This elite cyber intelligence unit has become a launchpad for dozens of surveillance, security, and AI companies, many of which maintain close—albeit unofficial—ties to Israeli military and intelligence operations.

While Wiz is not known to directly provide military services or technologies to the IDF, the Unit 8200 pedigree is significant. It places Wiz within a broader tech-military complex that has been instrumental in developing tools used in the surveillance and targeting of Palestinians, including facial recognition software, predictive policing systems, and algorithmically guided drones.

Gaza, AI Targeting, and Ethical Red Flags

The timing of the acquisition exacerbates concerns. It coincided with an escalation of Israeli military operations in Gaza that reportedly resulted in over 400 civilian deaths. During this period, investigative reporting revealed Israel’s increasing reliance on AI-assisted targeting systems such as “The Gospel,” which have been criticized for lacking accountability and contributing to indiscriminate violence.

Although no direct links between Wiz’s platform and these military systems have been confirmed, critics argue that the acquisition helps financially empower a sector that undergirds such technologies. The deal is seen as part of a broader pattern of tech companies contributing to the militarization of digital infrastructure—intentionally or not.

Voices of Dissent

Human rights advocates, digital rights organizations, and even Google employees have voiced alarm. The No Tech for Apartheid campaign—a coalition of workers from Google and Amazon—released a public statement condemning the acquisition. They argue that this transaction “bolsters the Israeli military-industrial complex” and undermines Google’s own AI ethics guidelines, which prohibit the use of its technologies for applications that cause harm.

Internal resistance has grown louder in recent years. Nearly 200 Google DeepMind employees signed a letter in early 2025 urging the company to withdraw from military-related contracts, including the $1.2 billion Project Nimbus cloud deal with the Israeli government, which runs parallel to this latest acquisition.

Strategic Investment or Geopolitical Subsidy?

Some analysts suggest the acquisition was a defensive move to prevent Wiz from falling into the hands of competitors like Microsoft or Amazon. Others believe it represents a calculated bet on long-term cybersecurity dominance. Still, the price paid—and the origin of the firm—suggest a deal that is as much about political alignment as it is about technology.

“This isn’t just about securing the cloud,” said one employee familiar with Google’s enterprise strategy. “It’s about securing influence in regions and sectors where digital infrastructure is deeply entangled with national security operations.”

A Call for Corporate Accountability

As the tech sector becomes increasingly globalized—and intertwined with state actors—the stakes of such deals extend beyond profit and innovation. They touch on fundamental questions of corporate ethics, international law, and the responsibilities of global enterprises in conflict zones.

The Wiz acquisition may very well bolster Google Cloud’s competitive edge. But in doing so, it has also opened a broader conversation about the complicity of Big Tech in modern warfare, surveillance, and the geopolitical redistribution of capital.