Former Apple Store Employees Share Experiences of Supporting Palestinians

Nearly 300 current and former Apple employees have come forward to demand justice for their peers who have allegedly faced disciplinary actions or wrongful termination for expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. The group, known as Apples4Ceasefire, claims that a Palestinian retail employee at an Apple store in Chicago was fired for simply showing support through their clothing and accessories.

In response to these allegations, Apples4Ceasefire is organizing a protest outside Apple’s retail store in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The group has also penned an open letter urging Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and other executives to acknowledge the casualties in Gaza resulting from Israel’s recent military assault in response to attacks by Hamas.

According to the group, over 1,200 people were killed in the October 7 attacks on Israel, while the United Nations has reported a staggering death toll of over 32,000 Palestinians since the conflict began. Tariq Ra’ouf, a technical expert at an Apple retail store in Seattle, spearheaded the Apples4Ceasefire campaign, with the majority of signatories being retail workers and some in corporate positions at Apple.

Ra’ouf believes that Apple has a unique opportunity to bring about positive change by listening to and addressing the concerns of its employees. Despite reaching out for comment, Apple has not responded to the allegations as of yet.

This incident is not isolated to Apple, as other tech giants like Google have also faced similar employee protests calling for acknowledgment and support for Palestinians. In fact, a Google employee was reportedly fired after protesting at an event related to Israel. The pressure is on for these tech companies to stand by their employees and show where they truly stand on this important issue.