Employees demand end to Israeli military collaboration
Dozens of Microsoft employees staged a protest at the company’s east campus in Redmond, Washington, opposing the alleged use of Microsoft’s Azure cloud services by the Israeli military for operations in Gaza and surveillance of Palestinians. The demonstration, organized by the “No Azure for Genocide” group, established a “Free Zone” on campus with signs such as “Join The Worker Intifada – No Labor for Genocide” and “Martyred Palestinian Children’s Plaza”.
This comes shortly after Microsoft announced an independent investigation into Azure’s involvement. Protestors are demanding full divestment from Israel. Activist and former employee Hossam Nasr cited the targeted killing of journalist Anas al-Sharif as a tipping point for his participation.
Claims of surveillance and internal dissent
Nasr, fired in 2023 after organizing a Palestine vigil, accused Microsoft of enabling mass surveillance, referencing reports that Israel’s Unit 8200 used Azure to store recordings of Palestinian phone calls. Microsoft denies knowledge of such surveillance, stating it has found no evidence Azure or its AI tools were used to harm civilians.
Reports by The Guardian and +972 Magazine earlier this month brought renewed scrutiny to Microsoft’s role. Protesters argue the company must be held accountable if its tools are aiding military or intelligence operations.
Escalation amid worsening Gaza crisis
UN organizations have issued dire warnings about starvation and disease in Gaza. The local health ministry reports over 62,000 Palestinians killed since October 7. Current Microsoft employee Nasreen Jaradat emphasized urgency, saying, “Every second we wait, things are worse in Palestine.”
The demonstration lasted two hours before police intervened. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the group left voluntarily and reiterated the company’s prior statement on the matter.
Growing movement inside Microsoft
With over 47,000 employees in Redmond, reactions varied from support to indifference. Activist Julius Shan, 28, said the aim is to spark internal dialogue: “We are inspiring conversation… about how their work is contributing to genocide.” He believes awareness is growing, even if slowly.
