Microsoft has terminated two employees, Nisreen Jaradat and Julius Shan, for their roles in protests opposing the company’s contracts with the Israeli military and government. These dismissals were confirmed by Hossam Nasr, an organizer with the No Azure for Apartheid group, after protests featured encampments at Microsoft’s headquarters.
This follows the recent firing of two additional employees for their participation in a protest where activists accessed a building and livestreamed from the office of Microsoft president Brad Smith. Jaradat had previously circulated a mass email within the company expressing her frustration over the treatment of Palestinian workers, deliberately ignoring internal restrictions on language concerning Palestine and Gaza.
The No Azure for Apartheid group has been actively challenging Microsoft throughout the year, with disruptions targeting company executives during live-streamed events this spring. More recently, the group attempted to occupy a plaza at Microsoft headquarters, leading to their removal, only to return with tents and tables, and also pour red paint on a Microsoft sign, resulting in 18 arrests.
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During a protest held on Tuesday at Smith’s office, he addressed the media afterwards, stating that Microsoft is “working every day” to assess potential misuse of its Azure platform in Israel. However, he expressed disapproval of the protesters’ methods, labeling them as “not ok.” Microsoft did not provide a statement for attribution to The Verge.
