Amazon Fires Engineer After Criticizing Company’s Israel Ties
Engineer fired for protesting Amazon’s Israeli government contracts.
Amazon.com Inc. fired 29-year-old Palestinian engineer Ahmed Shahrour on October 13, 2025, after he publicly criticized the company’s business ties with the Israeli government. Shahrour, employed at Amazon’s Whole Foods Market division, was terminated for allegedly violating company policies through statements deemed to “threaten, intimidate, coerce, or interfere with” senior leaders and colleagues, according to an internal email obtained by Bloomberg.
The saga began last month when Shahrour posted a series of messages in Amazon’s corporate Slack channels, condemning the company’s involvement in Project Nimbus—a cloud-computing contract with Alphabet Inc.’s Google to provide services to Israeli government and military entities. His dissent escalated when he staged a protest at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, distributing fliers that called out the tech giant’s role in the controversial deal. “Amazon is not a neutral observer,” Shahrour wrote in a note to colleagues. “We are active participants.” The message struck a nerve, especially amid global scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza before a ceasefire took effect on Monday.
Amazon defended its decision, with spokesperson Brad Glasser stating, “We don’t tolerate discrimination, harassment, or threatening behavior in our workplace. When such conduct is reported, we investigate and take appropriate action.” The company’s swift response has drawn criticism from activists who argue it stifles free speech and punishes employees for taking a moral stand. Shahrour’s firing has reignited discussions about corporate accountability in politically charged partnerships, particularly as Amazon and Google face mounting protests over Project Nimbus, which critics claim enables Israel’s military operations.
Also Read: Armed Heist on NH-44: Amazon Truck Looted in Madhya Pradesh
Shahrour’s activism didn’t stop at Amazon. In August, he joined six other current and former tech workers in a bold occupation of Microsoft President Brad Smith’s office, protesting the company’s sales to Israel. The group was arrested and later released, but their actions prompted Microsoft to disable certain software used by an Israeli military unit, following exposés in outlets like The Guardian. Shahrour’s defiance across these tech giants underscores a growing wave of employee-led resistance against corporate ties to contentious geopolitical issues.
The firing comes at a time when Amazon is aggressively expanding its global footprint, with plans to establish 100 new data centers by the end of 2025 to bolster its cloud-computing dominance. Yet, the Shahrour controversy casts a shadow over the company’s public image, raising questions about how tech giants navigate ethical dilemmas in their pursuit of profit. Critics argue that silencing dissent risks alienating workers and consumers, while supporters of Amazon’s decision insist that workplace policies must be upheld to maintain order.
Also Read: Taliban’s Amir Khan Muttaqi Deepens India Ties, Says ‘Pakistan Not Our Only Neighbor’
