Palestinians struggle to contact family in Gaza as Microsoft quietly shuts email accounts

Tech giant Microsoft has reportedly closed dozens of email accounts belonging to diaspora Palestinians without warning, leaving them unable to reach their family members in Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing war on the enclave.

According to multiple people who spoke to the BBC, the restrictions mean they are unable to access bank accounts and job offers, as well as platforms such as Skype which many are relying on to call family members living in Gaza.

Palestinians have been using platforms such as Skype to call family members living under attack in Gaza amid a communication blackout by Israel on the enclave. The platform is also one of the cost-effective options open to diaspora Palestinians.

"We are civilians with no political background who just wanted to check on our families," one person told the BBC, saying the email account he had used for around 20 years was now closed.

"I’ve had this Hotmail for 15 years…they banned me for no reason, saying I have violated their terms. What terms – tell me? I’ve filled out about 50 forms and called them many many times," another said.

Activists and campaigners online have slammed Microsoft for the move, which they stifles attempts by Palestinians living in besieged Gaza to reach out to the world.

"Reminder that Skype is one of the only ways Palestinians abroad can contact their families in Gaza. I know because that’s what my best friend uses. And now Microsoft is taking that away," one social media user wrote on X.

One social media user, under the name Diaa Mahmoud, said his account was also suspended after 15 years.

"All the services linked to the account were locked even though I was paying for them for years," he wrote on X, adding that he was signed out and then locked out permanently.

Others have called for Microsoft to clarify why the Palestinians' accounts have been closed.

The New Arab reached out to Microsoft but did not receive comment by the time of publication.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 38,345 Palestinians since 7 October and devastated entire neighbourhoods.

The bombardment has plunged Gaza into a deep humanitarian crisis and destroyed the enclave’s infrastructure.

Israel has been accused of covering up alleged war crimes by blocking journalists' access to Gaza and enforcing a communications blackout.