Palestinians say Microsoft unfairly closing their accounts

Palestinians living abroad have accused Microsoft of closing their email accounts without any prior warning, which has cut them off from essential online services. They claim that this has left them unable to access their bank accounts and job offers, and has also prevented them from using Skype, which is owned by Microsoft, to contact their relatives in Gaza. Microsoft, on the other hand, states that these accounts were closed because they violated its terms of service, a claim that the Palestinians dispute. Eiad Hametto, who resides in Saudi Arabia, expressed his frustration, saying that his email account, which he had for nearly 20 years, was suspended. This account was connected to all his work, and being cut off from Skype was a significant blow to his family. The internet in Gaza is frequently disrupted or switched off due to the Israeli military campaign, and standard international calls are very expensive. Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to a Hamas attack on 7 October, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 38,000 people have been killed in the ongoing war. With a paid Skype subscription, it is possible to call mobiles in Gaza at a lower cost, making it a lifeline for many Palestinians. Some of the individuals the BBC spoke to suspect that they were wrongly thought to have ties to Hamas, which Israel is fighting and is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries. However, Mr. Hametto denied having any such links, stating, 'We are civilians with no political background who just wanted to check on our families. ' Microsoft did not respond directly when asked if suspected ties to Hamas were the reason for the accounts being shut. A spokesperson mentioned that blocking in Skype could occur in response to suspected fraudulent activity, without providing further details. Salah Elsadi, who lives in the US, also shared his experience with the BBC, stating that he was locked out of his account and all services linked to his Microsoft Hotmail account in April. 'I've had this Hotmail for 15 years,' Mr. Elsadi said. 'They banned me for no reason, saying I have violated their terms - what terms? Tell me. ' He mentioned that he had filled out about 50 forms and called Microsoft numerous times. Another Palestinian, Khalid Obaied, expressed his distrust towards Microsoft, saying, 'I paid for a package to make phone calls - then, after 10 days, they ban me for no reason. That means it's only because I’m a Palestinian calling Gaza.