Microsoft Encourages Employee Donations to Illegal West Bank Settlements, While Barring UNRWA

Microsoft includes a number organizations based in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including at least one that fundraises to support the Israeli military, in its employee charitable giving platform. Yet the company has delisted the UN agency providing relief in Gaza, according to Microsoft employees petitioning the company internally to change its policy. The listing of the charities on the expansive platform means Microsoft will automatically match contributions.

Last week, a group of Microsoft employees began circulating a petition calling on the company to cease matching contributions to three organizations, the Ma’aleh Adumim Foundation, Ein Prat Academy for Leadership, and the Megilot Dead Sea Rescue Team, which they say “are in direct violation of international law,” citing the Geneva Conventions.

“Microsoft is directly funding these illegal and immoral settlements by allowing these organizations to remain,” the petition states, imploring the company to stop matching funding to the three organizations. “This is not only unethical, but also goes against our inclusive values as a company.”

They are still in the process of collecting signatures before approaching Microsoft’s management. Microsoft did not provide a statement for Drop Site’s story, and the West Bank charities were still available on the platform, Benevity, as of Tuesday.