Gaza Archives

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Mud bricks are not just for Minecraft – they can solve real-world refugee housing

Unverified images show a Gazan family reconstructing their home with mud bricks, following discussions about using mud bricks as a sustainable solution for the refugee crisis. Mud bricks are made from clay, sand, water, and natural binders, requiring no firing or fuel, making them environmentally friendly. Approximately 30% of the global population lives in earthen structures, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, India, and much of the Global South. In Gaza, the region faces challenges with energy and shelter, with over 12,000 rooftop solar systems established by 2022, providing vital resources despite ongoing conflict. Recent satellite assessments indicate that many solar installations have been damaged, highlighting the need for low-carbon, distributed systems in reconstruction efforts. NGOs are encouraged to focus on earthen construction techniques and training programs for local communities. Integrating solar energy with earthen building practices could lead to innovative micro-campuses that combine efficient structures with renewable energy and farming initiatives.

AppWizard

October 2, 2025

Microsoft reveal massive Game Pass Ultimate and PC Pass price hike, concede that price hikes are “never fun”

Microsoft is increasing the monthly fees for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to .99 (a 50% increase) and for PC Game Pass to .99 (approximately a 40% rise). The Xbox Game Pass Core is being rebranded to Xbox Game Pass Essential at .99 per month, offering around 50 games, while the Standard plan is now Xbox Game Pass Premium at .99 per month with about 200 games. Ultimate subscribers will gain access to Ubisoft games through Ubisoft Plus Classics and improved cloud gaming features. Microsoft reported record earnings from Game Pass, generating .6 billion last year, with an overall revenue increase of 18% to .4 billion. The company is also facing a consumer boycott related to its partnerships with the Israeli military and has announced plans to block Israeli military access to certain services.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Arkane STJV members demand Microsoft halt support for Israel

Members of Arkane Studios, part of the French union STJV, have called on Microsoft to stop its support for Israel, aligning with the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement and the No Azure for Apartheid campaign advocating for Palestinian rights. The BDS movement, established in 2005, aims to discourage corporate engagement with Israel, particularly following Microsoft's services to the Israeli military. Over 2,000 employees from Microsoft's gaming division signed a petition against the company's support for Israel. The STJV expressed that Microsoft should not be complicit in what they termed a genocide and emphasized the responsibility of tech workers to ensure their technologies do not facilitate oppression. They also raised concerns about the impact of Microsoft's actions on the viability of Xbox Games and their job security.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Industry vet David Miller joins Coatsink

David Miller has been appointed as the head of business development at Coatsink after a five-year tenure at War Child UK, where he led gaming partnerships and raised funds for youth in conflict zones. His previous experience includes roles at Bandai Namco, Bossa Studios, ITV, and The Imaginarium Studios. Coatsink, founded in 2009, was acquired by Thunderful Group in 2020 for .9 million, excluding performance payouts, enhancing its position in the indie gaming sector.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military

An employee named Joe Lopez was terminated after protesting during Microsoft's Build developer conference, expressing concerns about the company's technology being used in the Gaza conflict. His disruption led to a series of pro-Palestinian protests at the event, resulting in multiple interruptions of executive talks and Microsoft cutting audio from a livestreamed session. Outside the venue, demonstrators gathered to amplify their message. Microsoft has a history of responding firmly to employee protests related to its operations in Israel and recently acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated that there is no evidence of its technologies being used to target civilians. Following his protest, Lopez received a termination letter that he could not open, and an advocacy group claims Microsoft has restricted internal communications regarding terms like “Palestine” and “Gaza.” Microsoft has not commented on the protests during the conference.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI…

During Microsoft's annual Build developer conference in Seattle, software engineer Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's address to protest the company's technology supply to the Israeli military amid the Gaza conflict. Lopez was escorted from the venue after shouting at Nadella. He later sent a mass email to colleagues challenging Microsoft's claims about its Azure cloud platform's use in Gaza. The conference saw multiple interruptions from pro-Palestinian protests, and demonstrators gathered outside. Microsoft acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated there was no evidence linking its technologies to harm in Gaza. Lopez reportedly received a termination letter following his protest, and the advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid claimed Microsoft has restricted internal communications related to Palestine and Gaza.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft Says It’s Censoring Employee Emails Containing the Word “Palestine”

Employees at Microsoft have reported issues with emails containing specific keywords related to the Gaza conflict, such as “Palestine,” “Gaza,” “apartheid,” and “genocide,” which were either delayed or missing, while emails with the word “Israel” were unaffected. Delays of up to 45 minutes were noted, and the term “Palestinian” did not trigger the same issues. Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw stated that the company manages politically charged emails and discourages non-work-related discussions. The company's actions have faced criticism for being overly restrictive, especially following employee protests against Microsoft's contracts with the Israeli government. Reports indicated increased use of Microsoft’s Azure services by the Israeli military during the conflict, although Microsoft claimed no evidence of its technology being used to cause harm was found.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Palestinian developer disrupts Microsoft keynote: ‘my people are suffering’

Microsoft's Build developer conference experienced protests for two consecutive days due to the company's ties to Israel. During a keynote by Jay Parikh, a Palestinian tech worker interrupted to express concerns about Microsoft's contracts with the Israeli government, calling for an end to the collaboration. Security removed the protester, who was supported by the group No Azure for Apartheid. The previous day, Microsoft employee Joe Lopez also interrupted a keynote to speak against the company's contracts with Israel, urging colleagues to speak out. Microsoft is conducting an internal review of its technology's role in the Gaza conflict, maintaining that its relationship with Israel's Ministry of Defense is commercial and that its technologies are not misused. This follows previous instances of dissent within Microsoft, including disruptions at a 50th-anniversary event.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Brian Eno Criticizes Microsoft for Support of Israeli Military

Brian Eno has written an open letter to Microsoft titled “Not in My Name,” urging the company to stop providing artificial intelligence and cloud services to the Israeli military. He expresses concern that Microsoft's technological contributions could enable war crimes, stating that the company has acknowledged its support for Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Eno plans to donate his fee from the Windows 95 project to aid victims of the conflict in Gaza. He references a Microsoft blog post about the company's software and services being used by the Israeli government in ways condemned by legal scholars and human rights organizations. Eno emphasizes that selling advanced AI and cloud services to a government involved in systemic ethnic cleansing constitutes complicity and calls for a reevaluation of corporate ethics. He commends Microsoft employees who have spoken out against the company's actions and invites others to join his call for accountability.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft blocks emails that contain ‘Palestine’ after employee protests

Microsoft employees have discovered that emails containing specific terms related to Gaza and Palestine, such as “Palestine,” “Gaza,” and “Genocide,” are being blocked in the company's internal communication system. Variations of these terms, like “Israel” or “P4lestine,” do not face the same restrictions. The No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) protest group claims this selective blocking is an attempt to suppress free speech among employees advocating for Palestinian rights, labeling it as censorship. Microsoft has acknowledged making adjustments to its email system to limit the circulation of “politically focused emails” and stated that emailing large numbers of employees about non-work-related topics is inappropriate. This situation has coincided with protests against Microsoft's contracts with the Israeli government, including disruptions during the Build developer conference.