Dozens of Microsoft employees occupied the company's east campus in Redmond, Washington, to protest against the alleged use of its Azure software by the Israeli military for operations in Gaza and surveillance of Palestinians. The protest, organised by the No Azure for Genocide group, demands Microsoft divest from Israel.
Current and former staff gathered in a space they called the "Free Zone," holding placards with slogans such as "Join The Worker Intifada – No Labor for Genocide" and "Martyred Palestinian Children's Plaza." The demonstration followed a Guardian report revealing that Israel's military surveillance agency, Unit 8200, used Azure to store recordings of mobile phone calls made by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Microsoft has stated it is not aware of any surveillance of civilians using its services and launched an independent investigation. The company said it found no evidence that Azure or AI technologies had been used to target or harm people in the conflict. However, protesters argue that the response is inadequate, especially after the targeted killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif by the Israel Defense Forces.
Demonstrator Hossam Nasr, a former Microsoft employee, said he felt compelled to escalate actions after al-Sharif's death. Nisreen Jaradat, a current employee, emphasised the urgency, stating, "Every single second that we wait, things are worse and worse in Palestine." The protest ended after about two hours when police threatened arrests for trespassing.
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the group was asked to leave and complied. The company employs up to 47,000 people at Redmond. While some employees expressed sympathy, others doubted the protest's impact. Organisers believe the action helps educate colleagues about the company's alleged role in the conflict.
