Employees demonstrating against Microsoft's partnerships with Israeli organizations at their corporate headquarters

Protesters in Gaza erected tents and proclaimed the area a 'freedom zone' during the war.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 3 . 6:20 PM

2 min read

Employees of Microsoft stage demonstrations at company headquarters, voicing discontent over... — Employees of Microsoft stage demonstrations at company headquarters, voicing discontent over corporate partnerships with Israel

Employees demonstrating against Microsoft's partnerships with Israeli organizations at their corporate headquarters

In the heart of Redmond, Washington, Microsoft's headquarters became a focal point of controversy as employees and activist groups rallied against the tech giant's business relationship with Israel's military. The space was declared a "liberated zone" by the protesters.

The rally was sparked by reports published by The Guardian and other outlets, detailing the interception of mobile phone calls and their storage on Azure servers. This collaboration, which reportedly began in 2021, has been linked to Israeli operations involving mass data collection and surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, contributing to military actions that critics describe as war crimes.

Microsoft, a significant player in Israel's military, provides cloud computing services through its Azure platform to Israeli military intelligence, notably Unit 8200. The intercepted data, according to reporting, helped the military choose bombing targets in Gaza.

The protests, which included sit-ins and office occupations, have led to arrests of protesters, some of whom are Microsoft employees. In response, Microsoft President Brad Smith acknowledged the controversy, stating the company’s commitment to upholding human rights principles and investigating allegations of misuse of its Azure platform.

Smith emphasized that Microsoft's work with the Israeli military primarily focuses on cybersecurity protections. However, the company is under internal review regarding some protest-related incidents involving employees. Microsoft has hired an external law firm to investigate the claims and asserts that its terms of service prohibit its technology from being used to violate human rights.

The activists, drawing inspiration from protests staged on at least 100 US university campuses since the war in Gaza began, are pushing Microsoft to stop doing business with Israel and pay reparations to Palestinians. The protests on US university campuses have been ongoing for over a year.

Microsoft, in a blog post published in May, claimed to have found no evidence that its Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza. However, the investigation is ongoing, and some reported details remain contested by the company.

For over a year, the Microsoft employee group No Azure for Apartheid has been pushing Microsoft to end its relationship with Israel. Despite facing disciplinary action, including being fired for holding an unauthorized event on campus and disrupting executive speeches, the group continues to advocate for change.

As the investigation continues, Microsoft remains under scrutiny for its role in the conflict and the ethical implications of its business relationship with Israel. The company has yet to respond to a request for comment regarding these allegations.

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