Meta Platforms has temporarily closed its office in Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, a move that impacts roughly 900 employees
working at the facility. According to a report by The Information, the company informed staff about the closure through an internal memo, citing growing safety concerns as hostilities intensify across the region. In the message to employees, the tech giant acknowledged that many workers may not have access to bomb shelters or secure rooms at home during the crisis. “We understand that not everyone has access to a shelter or safe room at home during these challenging times,” the memo reportedly stated, adding that the situation had created distressing conditions for several employees. To support staff, Meta said it would provide hotel accommodation for up to five days for employees who do not have access to safe shelter facilities. Tech firms take precautionary steps Meta is not the only technology company taking precautionary measures as the conflict escalates. Several global tech firms with operations across the Middle East have adjusted their workplace policies to ensure employee safety. Nvidia has reportedly shut its office in Dubai and asked employees to work from home. Meanwhile, Amazon has instructed staff across the region to shift to remote work and follow local government safety guidelines. Social media company Snap Inc. has also asked employees across its four Middle East offices to work remotely amid the escalating tensions. Drone strikes hit cloud infrastructure Earlier this month, the conflict also disrupted cloud infrastructure operated by Amazon Web Services. Three AWS data centres — two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain — were reportedly struck by Iranian drones. The attacks caused structural damage and forced the facilities offline, leading to service disruptions across AWS platforms, including virtual server and database services. AWS warned that the recovery process could take time due to damage to buildings, power outages and water-related issues. The company advised customers to back up their data and consider shifting workloads to other regions. Strategic tech hub disrupted Meta’s Tel Aviv office, established in 2013, serves as a major research and development hub for the company. The centre plays a key role in developing technologies related to augmented reality and virtual reality products. The closure highlights how the expanding conflict is beginning to affect global technology operations and corporate infrastructure across the region. According to figures released by the Israeli Ministry of Health, at least 191 people were seriously injured in the past 24 hours amid the ongoing hostilities. Since the war began on February 28, more than 2,300 individuals have been hospitalised across Israel, according to reports cited by The Times of Israel. As the conflict intensifies, companies with operations in the Middle East are increasingly shifting employees to remote work or temporarily shutting offices to minimise risks.
