Microsoft fires 2 staffers who broke into president's office to protest Israel ties

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft terminated two employees following a protest by an anti-Israel group that broke into President Brad Smith's office, demanding the company cease its alleged support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza [1][3]. Group 1: Incident Details - A group of seven current and former Microsoft employees entered Smith's office in Redmond, Washington, demanding an end to the company's support for Israel, citing reports of its software being used by the military in Gaza [1]. - The protestors blocked access to the office and allegedly planted listening devices, refusing to leave until law enforcement intervened [6][11]. - Microsoft stated that the actions of the protestors were inconsistent with company expectations and policies, leading to the termination of Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle [3][5]. Group 2: Company Response - Microsoft has initiated a third-party investigation to determine if its technology has been used for surveillance purposes [9]. - President Brad Smith emphasized the company's commitment to uncovering the truth regarding the use of its services in the conflict [11][17]. - The company has faced backlash following reports that the Israeli military utilized its Azure cloud platform for storing communications of Palestinians [8]. Group 3: Broader Context - The protest was part of a larger movement called "No Azure for Apartheid," which aims to hold Microsoft accountable for its alleged complicity in Israeli actions [8]. - Similar protests have occurred at other tech companies, including Google, which terminated 28 employees last year over similar issues related to contracts with the Israeli government [17].