Amazon UK is currently investigating serious allegations of anti-Semitism after employees reported inflammatory comments posted in an internal chatroom. Workers within the company have shared disturbing messages that have sparked a wave of concern and condemnation.
The allegations involve employees posting messages that deny Hamas’ involvement in sexual violence during the 7th October massacre and suggesting that Israel controls Western media. These posts appeared in the Arabs@Amazon group on Slack, a platform used company-wide to foster diversity and inclusion among employees. Other affinity groups within the company include those representing black employees and the LGBTQ community.
Among the contentious posts, one employee questioned the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, while another dismissed reports of mass rape on 7th October as Israeli propaganda. The pro-Israel advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has called these messages “highly offensive” and described them as a “crescendo of hatred against Israel and Israelis.” They argue that such content creates a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli employees at Amazon, which breaches UK law and the company’s own guidelines.
The controversy is further complicated by the fact that at least three of the users who posted the offensive content are based in the UK and are understood to be office-based staff, such as software engineers. The content of the messages, according to UKLFI, would be distressing for any Israeli or Jewish person to read, as it promotes discrimination and racism.
Amazon, which employs over 1,000 people in Israel and thousands of Jewish employees worldwide, has been urged to take swift action. The company has responded by reiterating its zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment, promising thorough investigations and appropriate actions against violators.
This incident follows previous reports of anti-Semitism within Amazon, including an incident in December where an employee was suspended for placing a note that read “death to Zionists” inside a book on Israel before shipping it to a customer. An Amazon spokesperson stated, “We don’t tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the workplace. We investigate any such conduct that’s reported and take action against any employee who is found to have violated our policies, up to and including termination.”
Amazon’s ongoing investigation aims to address these serious allegations and reinforce its commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace.
For further information on Amazon’s policies and actions, visit Amazon News UK.
