Microsoft Fires Two Employees After Sit-In at President’s Office Over Israel Ties

Microsoft has terminated two employees for illegally entering the office of company president Brad Smith during a sit-in protest against the tech giant’s business ties with Israel.

The incident took place on Tuesday, August 26, when seven protesters occupied Smith’s executive office. The activist group No Azure for Apartheid identified the dismissed employees as Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli, claiming both received voicemails notifying them of their termination. The other five protesters arrested were either former Microsoft staff or individuals unaffiliated with the company.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the firings, citing “serious breaches of company policies and our code of conduct.” In a statement, the company said:

” Two employees were terminated today following serious breaches of company policies and our code of conduct. The first violated the Business Conduct Policy, participated in the unlawful break-in at the executive offices, and other demonstrations on campus, and was arrested by authorities on our premises on two occasions. The second was involved in the break-in at the executive offices and was subsequently arrested. These incidents are inconsistent with the expectations we maintain for our employees.”

Protesters’ Demands

The activist group has called on Microsoft to cut all ties with Israel and provide reparations to Palestinians. Their name, No Azure for Apartheid, refers to Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, which, according to a joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, is used by an Israeli military surveillance agency to monitor Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

“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,” Hattle said in a statement.

Following the investigation, Microsoft announced it had hired the law firm Covington & Burling LLP to conduct an independent review of the claims.

Previous Firings and Growing Activism

This is not the first time Microsoft has cracked down on employee protests. In April, the company fired two workers who interrupted a company event with pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The latest incident highlights a rising wave of employee activism across major corporations and universities amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Addressing the situation, Microsoft President Brad Smith stated:

“We respect the freedom of expression that everyone in this country enjoys as long as they do it lawfully.”