How CIA-backed tech giant Palantir aids Israeli genocide in Gaza with AI, surveillance

By Ivan Kesic

Palantir Technologies, the controversial US data analytics firm founded by CIA-backed Trump supporter Peter Thiel, has embedded itself deeply within American military and intelligence systems, including the Israeli war machine committing genocide in Gaza.

Specializing in data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data processing, Palantir has exerted significant influence across both government and commercial sectors.

The company has its roots in Silicon Valley, but is now based in Denver, Colorado, with more offices in Palo Alto, New York, and globally.

Founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, Joe Lonsdale, Stephen Cohen, and Nathan Gettings, the company has grown into a global player, sparking controversy due to its links to the Israeli military-industrial complex.

Established with initial backing from In-Q-Tel, the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) venture capital arm, Palantir received significant investment from Thiel’s Founders Fund and other venture capitalists.

Their clients include the US intelligence community, like the National Security Agency (NSA) and CIA, the Department of Defense, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as the UK's National Health Service (NHS), and international entities like the Israeli and Ukrainian military.

It also serves private firms like Airbus and BP.

Palantir Technologies reported $2.23 billion in revenue for 2023, with a market cap exceeding $50 billion in 2025, reflecting strong growth in military and commercial contracts.

The company's core products include Palantir Gotham, used by military and intelligence agencies for terrorism and counterterrorism, predictive policing, and geospatial analysis. Palantir Foundry is a commercial platform for data integration and decision-making, adopted by industries like healthcare and manufacturing. Palantir Apollo is a software delivery system that enhances deployment flexibility.

Palantir’s stated mission is to assist institutions in solving complex problems using data, leveraging AI for predictive analytics, surveillance, and operational efficiency.

Its software integrates disparate data sources, enabling real-time decision-making, which has been critical in security and disaster response issues. 

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Grave ethical concerns

Observers and analysts argue that Palantir’s dominance in government contracts, often secured without competitive bidding due to its deep CIA ties, stifles innovation and raises antitrust issues.

The company’s secretive nature, rooted in its intelligence origins, has fueled distrust. Its refusal to disclose full client lists or algorithmic details fuels transparency concerns.

Palantir’s work with US agencies like ICE has drawn ire for enabling mass deportation programs, resulting in employee backlash.

A 2019 investigation by The Intercept revealed Palantir’s role in tracking undocumented immigrants, leading to reports of facilitating human rights abuses.

In 2020, over 200 Palantir employees signed a letter opposing the ICE contract, highlighting internal dissent over the company’s ethical direction.

The use of Palantir Gotham in predictive policing has sparked controversy over racial profiling and bias in AI algorithms. Critics cite studies showing disproportionate targeting of minority communities.

Reports of inadequate data protection surfaced in a 2021 lawsuit by former company employees, who claimed that Palantir mishandled sensitive information, though the case was settled out of court.

Palantir’s collaboration with the US Department of Defense and foreign militaries, such as the Israeli and Ukrainian, has raised grave ethical questions.

Its AI-driven targeting systems contribute to targeted civilian casualties, particularly amid the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on Gaza. 

In July, it was reported that Palantir had gained control over all patient data across UK hospitals through its management of the NHS's Federated Data Platform.

This sweeping system, implemented in late 2023, centralizes medical records for Britain's entire population of 67 million people under the supervision of Palantir, provoking strong condemnation from the British Medical Association.

Ties with the Israeli regime

Palantir has openly affirmed its support for the Israeli regime, with CEO Alex Karp stating in a 2024 LinkedIn post, "We stand with Israel," and announcing a board meeting in Tel Aviv to enhance regional operations.

This followed an upgraded agreement with the Israeli military affairs ministry to support "war-related missions," in a reference to the genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, which has claimed nearly 60,000 lives so far.

Karp is known for his unapologetic and public support of the Israeli genocidal aggression in Gaza and as a promoter of Israeli propaganda against Palestinians.

At public appearances, he has often been attacked by the audience for the company's assistance in killing Palestinian civilians and personal support for Tel Aviv.

Thiel, the company's co-founder and chairman, is also a vocal pro-Zionist advocate and funder of pro-Israeli tech initiatives via Thiel Capital.

Multiple reports highlight Palantir’s provision of AI-driven targeting systems to Israeli military and intelligence agencies, leveraging data from US sources (NSA, via Edward Snowden’s leaks) to enhance precision strikes, notably in Gaza.

Tel Aviv's early adoption of Palantir technology, starting with counterinsurgency efforts in the 2000s, suggests a long-standing partnership.

The company’s presence in Tel Aviv and joint projects with Israeli tech firms reinforce this relationship. In 2013, Palantir opened an R&D center in the occupied Palestinian territories to focus on AI, cybersecurity, and military tech.

Palantir hires Israeli engineers, many with military intelligence backgrounds, including Unit 8200 alumni. The company also invested in Israeli startups like Lemonade (AI insurance) and Cybereason (cybersecurity).

The company’s support for the Israeli occupation military, including advanced targeting capabilities, has been a focal point of criticism in recent years. 

Palantir’s AI tools, adaptable for both civilian and military use, are said to aid Israeli missile systems like Iron Dome integration and offensive capabilities, though specific contracts remain classified.

A The Nation article in 2024 detailed Palantir’s role in supplying AI hardware and software that enabled precise strikes on Gaza, such as the 2023 aid vehicle attack, proving its direct complicity in war crimes.

Palantir Technologies supplies its advanced Gotham and Foundry software platforms to the Israeli military and intelligence agencies, including the IOF, Mossad, and Shin Bet. These powerful data analysis tools serve multiple critical functions for the regime.

The systems process intelligence for identifying potential threats and targets, as well as enhances border surveillance operations along frontiers with Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.

Additionally, the technology aids in cybersecurity and intelligence integration across different agencies.

Activists say Palantir’s tech enables mass surveillance in occupied territories, such as biometric tracking in the occupied West Bank. In 2021, Palantir staff protested contracts supporting illegal Israeli settlements.

During the 2023-2025 Israeli genocide in Gaza, Palantir's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities reportedly played an important operational role.

The systems helped analyze battlefield information as events unfolded, map out Hamas' underground tunnel networks, monitor militant activity through social media tracking, and support efforts to locate and recover captives.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has accused the company of profiting from genocide in Gaza.

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