Microsoft Fires Four Employees for On-Site Protests Over Israel Ties

Microsoft has fired four employees who protested the company's ties to Israel during on-site demonstrations. The protests were reportedly in response to Microsoft's involvement in the Israeli military's Iron Dome defense system. The firings have sparked controversy and calls for boycotts of Microsoft products. The company's ties to Israel have been a longstanding issue for some employees and activists.

Microsoft has terminated four employees following a series of on-site protests against the company's ties to Israel. The demonstrations, which took place at Microsoft's headquarters, were reportedly in response to the company's involvement in the Israeli military's Iron Dome defense system. The firings have sparked controversy and calls for boycotts of Microsoft products.

The protests began with a group of seven employees staging a sit-in at the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith. The group, known as No Azure for Apartheid, demanded that Microsoft sever ties with Israel and provide reparations to Palestinians. Two employees, Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli, were fired for their involvement in the protest [1]. The other five protesters were either former employees or outside activists unaffiliated with the company.

Microsoft stated that the employees were dismissed for serious breaches of company policies and their code of conduct, citing illegal break-ins at executive offices. The company has also authorized a third-party investigation into whether its technology has been used for surveillance by the Israeli military [2].

The protests have drawn significant attention and backlash, with some employees and activists calling for a boycott of Microsoft products. The company's ties to Israel have been a longstanding issue for some employees and activists, with recent revelations from a joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call adding to the controversy [1].

Microsoft has maintained that it respects the freedom of expression of its employees, but also expects them to follow company policies and conduct themselves lawfully. The company has vowed to investigate the allegations and get to the truth of how its services are being used.

References:
[1] https://caliber.az/en/post/two-microsoft-employees-fired-after-sit-in-protest-against-company-s-israel-ties
[2] https://nypost.com/2025/08/28/business/microsoft-fires-2-staffers-who-broke-into-presidents-office-to-protest-israel-ties/