Microsoft has terminated two employees, Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli, following a sit-in protest at the company president’s office opposing Microsoft’s ties with Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza since October 2023. The company stated that the employees were dismissed for “seriously breaching” company policies and code of conduct. Along with five others—former employees and outsiders—who were also part of the protest, Hattle and Fameli were arrested during the demonstration.
Anna Hattle condemned Microsoft’s support for Israel, accusing the company of enabling actions amounting to genocide while misleading its workforce. Microsoft President Brad Smith emphasized respect for lawful freedom of expression.
A media investigation revealed that an Israeli military agency used Microsoft’s Azure software to store massive recordings of Palestinian phone calls in occupied territories. Previously, two other employees protesting the company’s Israel ties were fired after disrupting a company event.
In response to ongoing protests, Microsoft has sought FBI assistance, worked with local authorities, monitored internal communications mentioning “Gaza,” deleted related posts, and suspended or fired employees involved in disruptions. Recently, 20 protesters were arrested at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters for defying police orders.
