Seven protesters were arrested in Washington after staging a sit-in at the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith. The action was organized by the campaign group "No Azure for Apartheid," which includes both current and former employees. The group accuses Microsoft of supporting Israeli war crimes through its Azure cloud services.

The demonstrators entered Building 34, occupied Smith's office, and displayed signs accusing him of crimes against humanity. They also chanted slogans such as "Brad Smith, you can't hide, you're supporting genocide" and hung a banner honoring a Palestinian engineer killed in Gaza. Police later confirmed seven arrests for trespassing, resisting arrest, and obstruction.

Outside the building, around 30 supporters held a one-hour rally. Microsoft confirmed that two of the arrested individuals were employees who now face disciplinary action. The company stressed that while it respects freedom of expression, protests must remain lawful and not threaten workplace safety.

Smith accused protesters of storming the office, locking people out, and planting hidden devices such as cell phones behind furniture. He stated that such actions crossed the line and promised tighter security to avoid future disruptions.

This protest came days after another demonstration in which activists poured red paint on a Microsoft sign and blocked a pedestrian bridge. The Guardian recently revealed that Israel's military allegedly uses Microsoft's Azure system to store millions of Palestinian phone call recordings. Microsoft has launched an internal investigation into these claims.

Reports also suggest Microsoft has asked the FBI for help in tracking pro-Palestinian protests that disrupt events. Despite rising tensions, Smith said the company will not retaliate against employees who raise concerns through official channels.

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