Microsoft workers occupy HQ in protest against company’s ties to Israeli military

Microsoft employees staged a protest at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, expressing outrage over reports that the Azure platform is being used by the Israeli military to store surveillance data collected on Palestinians. The protest was sparked by a recent report alleging the use of Microsoft's software to enable Israeli military operations in Gaza and the surveillance of Palestinians. In response, dozens of current and former Microsoft employees occupied a designated area on the company's east campus, declaring it the "Free Zone." They held placards with slogans like "Join The Worker Intifada – No Labor for Genocide" and "Martyred Palestinian Children's Plaza," highlighting their opposition to the company's alleged ties to the Israeli military's actions. The protest comes less than a week after Microsoft announced that it would launch an independent investigation into the use of its Azure software by the Israeli military. The protesters are demanding that the company take a stand against the reported use of its technology to support the alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians.