Palestinians Claim Microsoft is Unfairly Closing Their Accounts

Palestinians Abroad Accuse Microsoft of Closing Email Accounts Without Warning, Cutting Access to Vital Services

BBC (July 12, 2024) - Palestinians living abroad have accused Microsoft of abruptly closing their email accounts, which has severed access to essential online services. They report being unable to access bank accounts and job offers, and have lost the ability to use Skype, owned by Microsoft, to communicate with relatives in war-torn Gaza. Microsoft claims the accounts were closed for violating its terms of service, a statement disputed by the affected individuals.

Eiad Hametto, a resident of Saudi Arabia, expressed frustration, stating, "They killed my life online." He emphasized that losing access to Skype was particularly challenging for his family, especially given the frequent internet disruptions in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli military campaign. This situation makes standard international calls prohibitively expensive, making Skype a vital communication tool.

The conflict escalated after Israel's offensive in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 38,000 deaths since the onset of hostilities. Many affected individuals suspect they were incorrectly flagged as having ties to Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by several countries. However, Hametto denied any political affiliations, stating, "We are civilians with no political background who just wanted to check on our families."

Microsoft did not confirm if suspected Hamas ties were the reason for the account closures but noted that it does not block calls based on calling region or destination. A spokesperson mentioned that account suspensions on Skype could result from suspected fraudulent activity, without providing further details.