Employees protested at Microsoft headquarters against the use of the company's technology in Israel's military actions in Gaza, after which the police took 18 people into custody. Microsoft has promised to investigate the use of its technology by the Israeli army. The protesters have demanded to end business relations with Israel.

The strong protest of employees at Microsoft headquarters on Wednesday surprised everyone. Angry employees created a ruckus against the use of the company's technology in Israel's military actions in Gaza. After this, the police took 18 people into custody.

Microsoft has promised that it will immediately investigate the use of its technology by the Israeli army. The protesters have demanded the company to immediately end business relations with Israel.

This protest, which lasted for two days, put Microsoft in trouble. On Tuesday, about 35 protesters had gathered in the plaza built in the middle of the company's office. They left at Microsoft's behest, but on Wednesday the protesters became violent. They painted blood-like color on the sign with the company's famous logo.

According to the Redmond Police Department, the protesters became stubborn and aggressive when they were told that they were there illegally.

The protesters remained adamant after police action

Police spokeswoman Jill Green said, "We said, please leave, otherwise you will be arrested. But they refused to leave, so they were detained."

The protesters not only damaged the company's property, but also clashed with the police. Microsoft said last week that it would investigate with the help of a law firm, after British newspaper 'The Guardian' revealed that the Israeli Defense Force was using Microsoft's Azure cloud platform to store phone data collected for mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The company said in its statement, "Microsoft's service rules do not allow such use. This news makes serious allegations, which require immediate and thorough investigation."

'Deep relationship with Israel'

In February, The Associated Press revealed that Microsoft has a deep relationship with the Israeli Defense Ministry. After the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the Israeli army increased the use of Microsoft's commercial artificial intelligence products by about 200 times.

According to the AP report, the Israeli army uses Azure to transcribe, translate and process spy data, which is then combined with their own AI-based targeting system.

Microsoft said at the time that it had conducted an investigation, which found that Azure and its AI technologies were not used to target or harm people in Gaza.

However, the company did not share a copy of that investigation or the name of the investigators. Now Microsoft has said that it will conduct a new investigation with the help of law firm Covington & Burling and will share its results.

'No Azure for Apartheid' after employee outrage
This promise from the company was not enough for the employee-led group 'No Azure for Apartheid'. This group has been protesting for months against Microsoft's providing technology to the Israeli army.

The group says the company's technology is being used "to monitor, starve and kill Palestinians."

In May, Microsoft fired an employee who protested these contracts by interrupting a speech by CEO Satya Nadella.

In April also, two employees were fired for interrupting the company's 50th anniversary celebrations. On Tuesday, protesters called for an online "worker intifada", which commemorates the Palestinian uprising that began in 1987.