Microsoft Fires Two Employees for Breaking into President's Office Amid Gaza Protest

Microsoft fired two employees, Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle, after they broke into the office of company President Brad Smith. The break-in followed a protest by seven employees demanding that Microsoft stop supporting Israel due to alleged use of Microsoft's software in Gaza. The company is investigating the matter and cooperating with law enforcement.

Microsoft has terminated two employees, Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle, after they participated in a break-in at the office of President Brad Smith. The incident occurred during a protest by seven employees who entered Smith's office in Redmond, Washington, to demand that Microsoft stop supporting Israel due to alleged use of the company's software in Gaza [1].

The protest, organized by the activist group No Azure for Apartheid, saw the employees enter Smith's office in Building 34, where they chanted slogans and displayed banners demanding that Microsoft cut ties with Israel. One sign renamed the office the "Mai Ubeid Building," honoring a Palestinian software engineer from Gaza killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2023 [1].

Microsoft characterized the incidents as "unlawful break-ins" that violated workplace expectations and resulted in the termination of the two employees. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company is investigating the matter and cooperating with law enforcement [1].

This is the latest escalation in a series of protests by Microsoft employees over the company's business relationships with Israel. The group has conducted increasingly bold demonstrations in recent months, including disrupting Microsoft executives during the company's 50th anniversary celebration and the Build developer conference earlier this year [1].

The protests follow reports that Israel's Unit 8200 used Microsoft Azure to store Palestinian phone call recordings, and that the Israeli military has used Microsoft's Azure cloud platform for surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank [1].

Microsoft has stated that it is committed to ensuring its human rights principles and contractual terms of service are upheld in the Middle East. The company has launched a formal investigation into Israel's reported use of Azure and has authorized a third-party investigation into whether its technology has been used for surveillance [1].

The incident highlights the growing pressure on tech companies to address their business relationships with Israel, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As the situation evolves, investors and financial professionals will be closely watching Microsoft's response and the potential impact on its operations and reputation.

References:
[1] https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/microsoft-fires-2-employees-after-break-in-at-executives-office-during-israel-protest-3206081
[2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-fires-employees-break-in-president-brad-smith/
[3] https://nypost.com/2025/08/28/business/microsoft-fires-2-staffers-who-broke-into-presidents-office-to-protest-israel-ties/