Microsoft dismisses four workers following on-location demonstrations over corporate connections to Israel
In a recent development, technology giant Microsoft has dismissed four of its employees – Anna Hattle, Riki Fameli, Nisreen Jaradat, and Julius Shan – for their protests against the company's ties to Israel.
The employees were let go following "serious breaches of company policies," as stated by Microsoft. Hattle and Fameli received voicemails informing them of their termination, while Jaradat and Shan were also dismissed for participating in demonstrations at Microsoft headquarters.
Hattle, one of the dismissed employees, had accused Microsoft of complicity in Israel's war in Gaza. This accusation was supported by an investigation conducted by Globalbridge, which revealed Israel's military intelligence agency's use of Microsoft's Azure software for storing call data of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The investigation highlighted the surveillance of about one million conversations per hour to select drone targets in Palestine with Microsoft's assistance.
The events in Gaza have led to a humanitarian crisis, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the displacement of Gaza's entire population, and widespread hunger, according to humanitarian groups. This crisis has sparked global outrage.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and seized around 250 hostages in their 7 October 2023 assault. The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call conducted another investigation, revealing Israel's military surveillance agency used Microsoft's Azure software to store Palestinians' phone call recordings from the West Bank and Gaza.
Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, insists that the company supports freedom of expression "as long as they do it lawfully." However, the recent on-site demonstrations at Microsoft headquarters created "significant safety concerns" as stated by the company.
The firings are part of a growing trend of internal dissent and protests over ties to Israel at firms and universities. In April, two Microsoft employees were dismissed for interrupting AI chief Mustafa Suleyman's remarks at the company's 50th anniversary celebrations.
Microsoft has hired law firm Covington & Burling LLP to conduct a review in response to the investigation. The other five arrested were ex-employees or people unaffiliated with the firm. The ongoing events in Gaza and the subsequent protests have raised questions about the ethical responsibilities of tech companies in their partnerships with governments and military agencies.
Read also:
- Impact of Alcohol on the Human Body: Nine Aspects of Health Alteration Due to Alcohol Consumption
- Understanding the Concept of Obesity
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
