Further employees of Microsoft and Microsoft Leadership, so far you could see or have heard about my interference at Microsoft Build Keynote this morning. I have been working as an Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure software (AHSI) software for the last 4 years. As an Microsoft employee – although I had positive experiences here, working and learning with many amazing people – I can no longer be in silence, because Microsoft still facilitates the ethnic cleansing of Israel by the Palestinian people.
Like many of you, I was terrifying on the ongoing genocide in Gaza. I was shocked by the silence, inaction and soullessness of world leaders, when the Palestinian people suffer, lose their lives and houses, while the rest of the world caught attention and act.
Like many of you, I tried to make my part in diminutive ways. Staying on a regular basis, sharing information with friends, signing a petition, transferring donations. Continuing to work at Microsoft all the time.
My disappointment with Microsoft
Then I came across Azure for the Apartheid movement, which members organized, took action and spoke regardless of the costs. I saw the disturbance of Ibtihal and Vaniya on the 50th anniversary of Microsoft on April 4 and I was shocked, hearing the words from their mouth. Microsoft kills children? Does my work kill children?
I was also shocked by the silence of our leadership. Through the silence of Mustafa Suleyman, Brad Smith, Kevin Scott, Scott Guthrie and satya nadella. “Why don’t they answer?” I asked myself. “If we really are not guilty or should they deny these terrible accusations?”
I started looking deeper. I read the articles, saw evidence, heard the testimonies of employees who were terrified to find out that the technology we are building is used by Israel in their mission to erase the Palestinian nation.
A switch switched. I presented this information, I worked every day at work, which are caused by suffering, which are inflicted by the US war machine, which operates on the Azure platform. I joined Microsoft because I really believed that it was a “more ethical large technology.” I thought that the work I did was strengthened with people, not causing damage.
Acceptance of Microsoft’s participation
Microsoft recently sent a blog post, which meant his first official answer to fears that many have been shouting for years. Their statement is not in the sense, which we demand. Non -war audits for our cloud operations in Israel (they have been conducted by them other than Microsoft itself and the unnamed external entity), which do not declare any offenses by the company, do not give me any sense of relief. In fact, this answer forced me to comment. Microsoft openly confessed to enabling Israel to the Ministry of Defense “special access to our technologies outside the terms of our commercial agreements.” Do you really believe that this “special access” was only allowed once? What kind of “special access” do they really need? What are they doing with it?
Leadership rejects our claims that Azure technology is used to aim or harm civilians in gas. Those of us who pointed out know that this is a bold lie. Each byte of data stored in the cloud (most of them probably contained data obtained by illegal mass supervision) can and will be used as a justification for alignment of cities and extermination of Palestinians. We do not need an internal audit to know that the best customer of Azure is committing crimes against humanity. We see how he lives on the internet every day.
As one of the largest companies in the world, Microsoft has immeasurable power to do the right thing: demand the end of this senseless tragedy, otherwise they would stop our technological support for Israel. If leadership still ignores the demand, I promise that it will not become unnoticed. The world has already woke up to our participation and turns against us. The boycott will augment and our image will continue to settle.
Call action
One day my future children will ask me what I did for the Palestinian people because they suffered and begged for our support. I hope they will forgive me my previous inactivity. Many of you have children who can ask this question today. What will you tell them?
When Israel continues the mortal blockade of Gaza, and Netanyahu still claims that it does not rest until the gauze is fully busy, we know that this situation is not entirely. I would not risk my career and livelihood if I did not believe in the core of my being. Speaking is terrifying, especially now. Imagine that your home is demolition when the soldiers stand, cheering.
Your friends and family members dismembered by bombs that fall every day in your area.
Each member of your community on the brink of death because of hunger
Strangers claimed to your home, waiting for your death.
Don’t you hope that someone will speak for you?
I will recognize my privilege as a juvenile man with little financial responsibility towards everyone except myself and a low risk of deportation as a US citizen. Not everyone can afford to do what I did without a great risk for myself and my family. But no deed is too diminutive when human life is at risk. Sign the petition, join the movement, start a conversation with colleagues, please contribute to the case.
I know that many of you are also considering abandoning Microsoft for the same reasons I am. You are not alone. If you think that working in this company is too devastating and you want to leave, rely on our campaign for support. If we continue to be hushed, we will pay for this silence with our humanity.
Looking back, I’m ashamed of my past silence. But as the proverb says: “The best time for action was yesterday, the second best time is today.”
The best,
Joe