Amazon fired Ahmed Shahrour, a software program engineer working for the corporate's Entire Meals division in Seattle, on Monday following a five-week suspension, in line with CNBC. The termination got here after Shahrour posted messages on inner Slack channels criticising Amazon's involvement in Challenge Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli authorities.“Within the subsequent 24hrs you'll obtain an e-mail with detailed details about your termination, together with details about your advantages and closing pay,” an Amazon human sources worker wrote in a message to Shahrour obtained by CNBC. “We admire the contributions you've got made throughout your time with Amazon and want you one of the best in your future endeavors.”Amazon's investigation discovered Shahrour violated the corporate's requirements of conduct, written communication coverage and acceptable use coverage. The corporate alleged he “misused firm sources, together with by posting quite a few non-work-related messages pertaining to the Israel-Palestine battle,” CNBC reported.
Firm cites coverage violations, worker alleges retaliation
Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser instructed CNBC the corporate would not tolerate “discrimination, harassment or threatening habits or language of any sort in our office.” When such conduct is reported, Amazon investigates and takes “acceptable motion primarily based on our findings,” Glasser mentioned.Shahrour, nonetheless, known as his firing “a blatant act of retaliation designed to silence dissent from Palestinian voices inside Amazon and defend Amazon's collaboration within the genocide from inner scrutiny,” in line with his assertion to CNBC. He had urged the corporate to drop its contract involving synthetic intelligence instruments, information facilities and different infrastructure offered to the Israeli authorities.
Large tech have been firing staff over Israel protests
The termination of protesting staff has change into a pattern throughout huge tech. Microsoft fired two staff in August who participated in protests inside firm headquarters, whereas Google terminated 28 staff in April 2024 after protests in opposition to Challenge Nimbus, CNBC reported. Final week, a Microsoft engineer resigned after 13 years, claiming the corporate continues promoting cloud companies to the Israeli navy.Shahrour's firing occurred the identical day Hamas launched seven Israeli hostages as a part of a ceasefire deal brokered with assist from President Donald Trump.
