Cisco Rushes Experts to Israel After Critical Wartime Failures in Military Systems
Leaked documents reveal Cisco faced major technical failures in Israeli military intelligence systems during the Gaza war, threatening lucrative defense contracts and prompting emergency deployments.
Cisco Systems faced severe technical disruptions in Israeli military intelligence systems during the Gaza war, prompting threats from defense officials to cancel contracts and forcing the tech giant to deploy emergency expert teams to Israel, according to leaked internal documents revealed by The Guardian.
The documents show that computing systems utilized by Israeli intelligence suffered recurring, hours-long outages and technical failures that automated diagnostic tools failed to resolve. These disruptions occurred during infrastructure upgrades, impacting critical operations and endangering a partnership that generated approximately $67 million for Cisco over three years. Internal memos emphasized the profound impact on client relations during wartime, though records did not specify affected combat operations.
Crisis Management and Deep Military Ties
Recognizing the risk of losing a vital client, Cisco mobilized senior executives and dispatched personnel to Israeli military sites under strict security protocols. Technicians visited Unit Sapir, the secretive Directorate of Military Intelligence unit responsible for maintaining IDF data centers and communications infrastructure, including systems utilized by Unit 8200. Following the October 7 attacks, Unit Sapir was tasked with accelerating the relocation of intelligence systems to underground facilities to withstand missile strikes.
Cisco resolved the technical issues between 2024 and mid-2025, earning praise from Israeli clients. The company has long maintained extensive defense contracts, describing its technology as critical to the IDF "like planes and tanks" in internal records from 2021. Revenues from Israeli operations grew significantly, reaching $283 million in 2024, driven heavily by Ministry of Defense contracts.
Internal Dissent and Shareholder Pressure
Concurrently, Cisco has encountered internal opposition. A group of employees and former employees known as Bridge to Humanity criticized the company for supporting the Israeli military, drawing comparisons to weapons manufacturers. In 2024, over 1,700 employees signed a petition demanding an end to technology supplies to the IDF. The controversy also involved allegations of workplace hostility toward Middle Eastern and Muslim employees, which the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated earlier this year. Cisco disputed the findings, and in March 2025, management banned discussions regarding the Gaza conflict in all-company forums.
The controversy extends to shareholders. On December 15, an equity vote will address a proposal submitted by Azzad Asset Management demanding an independent human rights risk assessment regarding defense contracts. Cisco's board, along with the Anti-Defamation League and JLens, recommended voting against the proposal, arguing it selectively targets Israel to advance boycott campaigns.
