Microsoft Headquarters Stormed: Activists Demand End to Contracts with Israel in High-Stakes Protest
A group of demonstrators breached security at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters on Tuesday, taking over Microsoft President Brad Smith’s office in an escalating protest against the company’s contracts with Israel. The activists, part of the “No Azure for Apartheid” movement, barricaded themselves inside the executive suite while livestreaming their occupation on Twitch.
The protesters managed to enter Building 34, where CEO Satya Nadella and other senior leadership have their offices, prompting a temporary lockdown of the facility. Once inside Smith’s office, they secured the entrance with furniture and hung protest banners from windows while chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. One of the group’s organizers, Hossam Nasr, who had altered his appearance with a new haircut and mustache, was among those involved.
The demonstration ended with seven arrests on charges of trespassing and obstruction, with some protesters facing additional charges for resisting arrest, according to Redmond Police. Approximately 20 other demonstrators outside the building dispersed peacefully when requested by authorities.
This incident follows several recent protests targeting Microsoft. Last Wednesday, 20 people were arrested after demonstrators occupied a plaza at the company’s East Campus, defaced company signage with red paint, and blocked a nearby bridge. On Sunday, protesters even took to Lake Washington in kayaks, demonstrating outside the waterfront homes of both Smith and Nadella while displaying banners accusing them of war crimes.
The activist group claims to include Microsoft employees among its ranks. In public statements, they announced their intention to establish a “liberated zone” within the building, which they attempted to symbolically rename after Mai Ubeid, a Palestinian software engineer killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Bloomberg has reported that Microsoft sought assistance from the FBI in tracking protest activities following disruption of a company anniversary event. The tech giant reportedly requested intelligence about potential pro-Palestinian demonstrations targeting the company.
Microsoft maintains it supports political expression but draws the line at disruptive protests on private property. The company has committed to reviewing allegations about its Azure cloud platform’s use in Palestinian surveillance and pledges to maintain human rights standards in its contracts. However, protesters continue demanding that Microsoft completely end its relationship with Israel, arguing that the company’s technology enables human rights violations in Gaza.
The activists placed what they described as a mock court summons on a large monitor in Smith’s office during the occupation. While Microsoft has implemented some measures to address human rights concerns, the protesters insist these steps are insufficient and continue to press for complete severance of the company’s ties with Israel.
