Microsoft protests result in 18 arrests amid review of military contracts with Israel

Police arrested 18 people Wednesday during worker-led protests at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters as the company vowed an "urgent" review of the Israeli military's use of its technology amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The demonstrations, which followed a similar protest the day before, demanded that Microsoft immediately sever business ties with Israel. Unlike Tuesday, when around 35 protesters left after being asked by the company, Wednesday's demonstrators "resisted and became aggressive," the Redmond Police Department said. Protesters also splattered red paint resembling blood over a landmark Microsoft sign.

"We said, 'Please leave or you will be arrested,' and they chose not to leave so they were detained," police spokesperson Jill Green said.

Microsoft said last week it hired a law firm to investigate allegations reported by The Guardian that the Israeli Defense Forces used Microsoft's Azure cloud platform to store phone call data obtained through mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. "Microsoft's standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage," the company said, calling the report "precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review."

Earlier, The Associated Press revealed Microsoft's close ties with Israel's Ministry of Defense, including a nearly 200-fold increase in military use of its AI products after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. While Microsoft acknowledged military applications, a company-commissioned review reportedly found no evidence that Azure or its AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. Microsoft said the latest review, conducted by Covington & Burling, will be shared when completed.

The employee-led No Azure for Apartheid group, which has long protested Microsoft's technology supply to the Israeli military, said Wednesday that the tools are "being used to surveil, starve and kill Palestinians." Microsoft previously fired employees who protested CEO Satya Nadella's speeches and the company's 50th anniversary celebration.

Tuesday, protesters called for a "worker intifada," invoking language from the Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation.

The Redmond Police Department said the 18 detainees face multiple charges, including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction. It was unclear how many are Microsoft employees. No injuries were reported.

Microsoft said after the arrests that it "will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others."