📍 Washington, D.C. — In a powerful act of dissent, current and former Microsoft employees staged a protest outside the company’s headquarters, demanding an end to its collaboration with the Israeli military during the Gaza war.
According to a report by Anadolu Agency, the protest was organized by the employee-led group “No Azure for Apartheid”, targeting Microsoft’s cloud service Azure, which they allege has been used by Israel’s military for surveillance on Palestinians.
🚨 Inside HQ Walls:
Protesters entered Building 34, home to Microsoft President Brad Smith’s office, chanting slogans and waving banners. One called for renaming the building after Mai Ubaid, a Palestinian software engineer killed in Gaza during Israeli airstrikes in 2023.
Another banner read:
“No Tech for Apartheid — End the Complicity.”
⚠ 7 Arrested:
As Anadolu reports, seven protesters were arrested after entering Smith’s office. Microsoft reportedly reached out to the FBI and local law enforcement to contain the demonstration.
🕵♂ What Sparked the Backlash?
Earlier this year, U.S. outlets revealed Microsoft’s partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, reportedly involving the use of Azure to collect and store intelligence, including Palestinian phone call data.
Microsoft responded by claiming an internal review found no evidence its tools were used to target civilians — but has yet to publish its findings.
📢 Protesters are calling for:
- A full cut-off from Israeli military contracts
- Transparency on how Microsoft tech is used in conflict zones
- A public stance against human rights violations
