Redmond (US) – At least 18 people, including current and former employees of Microsoft, were arrested on Wednesday after staging a large protest at the company’s Redmond headquarters, accusing the tech giant of aiding Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, reported the Hindu.
The demonstrators — joined by community members and Palestine solidarity activists — occupied Microsoft’s East Campus Plaza, renaming it the “Martyred Palestinian Children’s Plaza.” They set up tents, banners, and artwork portraying the suffering of Palestinians, while demanding that Microsoft cut all ties with Israel.
According to the Redmond Police Department, protesters poured paint on the Microsoft sign, blocked a pedestrian bridge, and used vendor tables and chairs to build barricades. Police said they initially attempted to disperse the crowd for trespassing, but resistance led to multiple arrests. The detainees face charges including trespassing, resisting arrest, malicious mischief, and obstruction. No injuries were reported.
Videos circulating online show officers dragging protesters — some wearing keffiyehs — while making arrests.
In a statement, Microsoft said it would continue to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East but emphasized that it would also take action against “unlawful activities that damage property, disrupt business, or threaten others.”
The protests were organized under the banner of “No Azure for Apartheid,” a campaign led by Microsoft employees opposing the use of the company’s cloud and AI technologies by the Israeli military. Activists accused Microsoft of enabling mass surveillance, blackmail, and violence against Palestinians, citing contracts with Israeli defense institutions and reports linking Microsoft Azure to the Israeli Defense Forces’ intelligence operations.
Earlier this year, reports by The Guardian and the Associated Press revealed that Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform was used by Israel to process data collected through mass surveillance of Palestinians. While Microsoft acknowledged its technologies were used for military purposes, the company denied that they were directly involved in targeting civilians. It has since ordered an external review by law firm Covington & Burling.
Protesters, however, dismissed these reviews as inadequate. They demanded Microsoft:
End all contracts with Israeli government and military bodies.
Close its offices and data centers in Israel.
Provide reparations to Palestinians.
Protect employees advocating for Palestine from retaliation and reinstate those dismissed.
The activists also called for Microsoft to use its global influence to push for lifting the blockade on Gaza and to support humanitarian aid distribution through UNRWA and Palestinian-led organizations.
Despite Microsoft’s assurances, activists insist that the company’s role in what they call “genocide-profiteering” remains clear. “Microsoft’s claims of morality are a façade,” protesters said, adding that the company has chosen profit over human rights.
The arrests at Redmond mark the latest in a series of global worker- and student-led actions pressuring corporations to sever ties with Israel amid the ongoing war on Gaza.
