Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold banners and signs as they protest outside the Microsoft Build conference at the Seattle Convention Center in Seattle, Washington on May 19, 2025.
Jason Redmond | Afp | Getty Images
Microsoft (MSFT) confirmed Thursday the termination of two employees following what the company described as serious breaches of policy. The dismissals are linked to a protest held earlier in the week at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters.
On Tuesday, seven current and former Microsoft employees, affiliated with the group “No Azure for Apartheid,” staged a demonstration within the company’s building. Their protest centered on objections to the Israeli military’s alleged utilization of Microsoft software in its operations in Gaza. The group reportedly gained access to the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith, demanding an end to the company’s direct and indirect support of Israel.
No Azure for Apartheid announced via Instagram that Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle were the employees terminated.
“Two employees were terminated today following serious breaches of company policies and our code of conduct,” stated a Microsoft spokesperson, citing unlawful break-ins at the executive offices.
“These incidents are inconsistent with the expectations we maintain for our employees. The company is continuing to investigate and is cooperating fully with law enforcement regarding these matters,” the statement continued. The company’s response underscores the tightrope tech giants walk as they navigate employee activism and corporate responsibility.
Smith stated following the protests that demonstrators had blocked access to the office, surreptitiously planted recording devices disguised as phones, and refused to leave until law enforcement intervened.
No Azure For Apartheid describes itself as “a movement of Microsoft workers demanding that Microsoft end its direct and indirect complicity in Israeli apartheid and genocide.” The organization has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of the company’s ties to Israel.
Earlier this month, *The Guardian* reported allegations that the Israeli military used Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure to store intercepted phone calls of Palestinians. These claims prompted Microsoft to launch a third-party investigation into potential misuse of its technology for surveillance purposes. Smith addressed the situation on Tuesday, pledging to “investigate and get to the truth” regarding how Microsoft services are being utilized.
Smith also noted that No Azure For Apartheid had conducted protests around Microsoft’s campus the previous week, resulting in 20 arrests in a single day, with 16 of those arrested having no prior employment history with the company. This indicates a level of external involvement and potentially orchestrated activity surrounding the internal employee activism.
This year, No Azure for Apartheid has targeted several high-profile Microsoft events, including the Build developer conference and the company’s 50th-anniversary celebration. *Bloomberg* reported that a Microsoft director had contacted the FBI regarding these protests, suggesting the company is taking these actions and their potential disruptions very seriously.
These actions by Microsoft mirror similar moves made by other tech giants. Last year, Google (GOOGL) fired 28 employees following protests over labor conditions and the company’s contract with the Israeli government and military for cloud computing and AI services. In that instance, some employees gained unauthorized access to the office of Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google’s cloud unit.
— CNBC’s Jordan Novet contributed to this report.
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