Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has terminated four employees who participated in on-site protests against the company’s business ties with Israel during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. The firings follow a series of demonstrations, including a sit-in at Microsoft President Brad Smith’s office, as workers demand that the company cut its contracts with Israel.
Microsoft Terminates Four Protesters After Sit-In
According to the protest group No Azure for Apartheid, two employees, Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli, were fired after receiving voicemails from Microsoft management. The group later confirmed that two additional employees, Nisreen Jaradat and Julius Shan, were also dismissed.
The protests included a sit-in at Brad Smith’s office earlier this week, during which seven individuals were arrested. Microsoft said the terminations were due to “serious breaches of company policies” and highlighted that the demonstrations “created significant safety concerns.”
Protest Group: Microsoft Complicit in Surveillance and War
The protest group No Azure for Apartheid, named after Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, has accused the company of enabling Israeli surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank.
In a statement, Hattle said:
“We are here because Microsoft continues to provide Israel with the tools it needs to commit genocide while gaslighting and misdirecting its own workers about this reality.”
The group has demanded that Microsoft end its ties with Israel and pay reparations to Palestinians.
Media Investigation Links Microsoft to Israeli Surveillance
A joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call earlier this month revealed that an Israeli military surveillance agency has been using Microsoft Azure to store millions of recorded phone calls from Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
In response, Microsoft said it has hired law firm Covington & Burling LLP to review its operations and ensure compliance with international standards.
History of Microsoft Worker Protests
This is not the first time Microsoft employees have protested over the company’s relationship with Israel:
- In April 2025, two employees were fired after disrupting a speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration, calling for an end to the firm’s Israel contracts.
- Encampments have also been set up at Microsoft headquarters, echoing student-led protests at universities across the U.S. and Europe.
The Broader Context: Israel-Gaza War
The latest wave of protests comes amid mounting global outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Images of starving Palestinian civilians, including children, have intensified calls for companies to cut ties with Israel.
The conflict escalated in October 2023 when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s military response has since led to widespread devastation in Gaza.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft fired four employees for on-site protests against its ties to Israel.
- The protest group No Azure for Apartheid accuses Microsoft of enabling Israeli military surveillance through Azure cloud services.
- A joint investigation found that Israel uses Microsoft’s technology to store vast surveillance data on Palestinians.
- Microsoft says the firings were due to policy violations and safety concerns.
- Protests reflect broader unrest over corporate ties to Israel amid the Gaza war.
