In a show of solidarity and condemnation, dozens of Google employees held sit-ins on Tuesday at the company's offices in New York City and Sunnyvale, California, to protest Google and Amazon's contract with the Israeli government and military. The deal, known as Project Nimbus, is valued at a staggering $1.2 billion.

During the sit-ins, the protesting employees wore shirts bearing the slogan "Drop Project Nimbus," while a banner that read "No tech for genocide" was prominently displayed. The protesters took over the office of Google Cloud Chief Executive Thomas Kurian and remained there for approximately 10 hours, demanding that Google and Amazon sever ties with Project Nimbus.

Their grievances extended beyond the contract itself, as the employees also expressed concerns about the alleged "harassment, intimidation, bullying, silencing, and censorship" directed towards Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Google workers who have raised objections regarding the company's work in Israel and its involvement in the recent Hamas conflict.

However, tensions escalated when Google ordered the arrest of nine workers in Sunnyvale and New York on Tuesday night. These employees were informed that they would be locked out of their accounts and offices, with no expected return to work until contacted by the Human Resources department.

Google defended its actions, stating that a small number of employee protesters had disrupted multiple locations and had repeatedly refused requests to vacate the premises. The company asserts that physical obstruction of other employees' work and the prevention of facility access are clear violations of company policies.

Law enforcement officials were called to the scene at the Sunnyvale office and encountered around 80 participants, most of whom dispersed by early afternoon. However, five protesters remained and were subsequently arrested for criminal trespassing when they refused to leave later in the evening.

The arrested workers released a statement expressing their disappointment at being denied an opportunity to speak with Google Cloud CEO and lamenting the company's alleged disregard for their concerns about ethical responsibility and workplace safety.

This is not the first incident that has fueled discontent within Google's ranks. Last month, the company fired an employee who protested a speech by a top Google executive in Israel at a conference in New York. Additionally, more than 500 Google employees have shown support for a colleague who claims to have faced retaliation from the company.

The tech industry at large is experiencing a wave of protests concerning involvement in Project Nimbus. Multiple employees at Amazon have also voiced their concerns about the company's participation in the controversial contract.

These protests come on the heels of Israel's recent bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which was a response to an attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants. The conflict resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of around 240 individuals. According to Gaza health officials, over 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during Israel's air and ground offensive.

Google maintains that its cloud computing services support various governments, including the Israeli government, but emphasizes that the work is not associated with highly sensitive or military-related activities.

The situation continues to evolve, and it remains to be seen how Google and its employees will navigate the ongoing tensions surrounding Project Nimbus and its implications for human rights in the region.