A shareholder resolution related to the allegations levelled at Microsoft concerning the use of its technology in Gaza will be voted on at the company's annual meeting.
The resolution seeks to push Microsoft to evaluate its effectiveness in promoting "human rights due diligence processes" related to artificial intelligence.
"Shareholders request the board of directors publish a report, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information, assessing the effectiveness of Microsoft’s human rights due diligence processes in preventing, identifying and addressing customer misuse of Microsoft artificial intelligence and cloud products or services that violates human rights or international humanitarian law," reads the resolution.
Since April, the software company has come under criticism from various groups, chief among them No Azure for Apartheid, which consists of current and former Microsoft employees who have criticised the company's contracts with the Israeli military. The group has claimed that Microsoft's AI and cloud products have been used to target Palestinians in the war in Gaza.
After weeks of condemnation from No Azure for Apartheid, Microsoft announced in May that an internal review had found "no evidence" its products have been used to harm people in Gaza.
There were caveats in the review, however, particularly an acknowledgement that because of the nature of how software and AI tools are used by various entities, Microsoft's investigation might have been limited.
The resolution recently submitted for the company based in Redmond, Washington, was filed by about 60 shareholders, "collectively representing more than $80 million in Microsoft shares", said corporation watchdog Eko, which provided a copy of the resolution to The National.
Israel's campaign in the enclave – which followed the 2023 attacks by Hamas-led fighters on Israel that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of 240 hostages – has killed nearly 58,400 people and injured more than 139,000.
Microsoft is not alone in coming under scrutiny for contracts with Israel. Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google and others have faced flak.
The internal review of Microsoft, despite making the company stand out among others to have been condemned for their ties to Israel, failed to appease those who insist the company's AI tools and cloud computing offerings such as Azure have been misused in Gaza.
The lead filer of the resolution, set to face a vote at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting in December, is the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, an international congregation of Catholic women.
"Over the years, we have had constructive discussions with Microsoft," read a statement from the group. "However, in this case, we are disappointed that Microsoft’s recent statements responding to allegations of complicity in war crimes lack both specificity and detail."
Rewan Haddad, a campaign director at Eko, which describes itself as being "committed to curbing the growing power of corporations", said "time will tell if Microsoft’s executives heed the call of their investors and people around the world, or continue to profit from and fuel atrocities".
When asked about the shareholder resolution, a Microsoft official directed The National to the company's internal investigation released in May, but also pointed out that the company would respond to shareholder proposals in its annual proxy statement scheduled for later this year.
Its looks set to face an uphill battle in terms of being approved by Microsoft's shareholders and because resolutions for publicly traded companies in the US are non-binding, enforcing them is difficult.
Meanwhile, demonstrators calling attention to the plight of Gazans have continued to interrupt Microsoft events throughout the US.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
