In a continuation of their response to recent protests, Google has terminated more than 50 employees who participated in sit-ins organized by the No Tech for Apartheid Campaign. The initial round of terminations included 28 individuals, and this number has now grown as the company concluded its investigation into the disruptive activity that took place inside Google offices in New York and Sunnyvale, Calif.

The advocacy group, which has been urging Google to end its cloud computing contract with the Israeli government and military, expressed its disappointment with the firings. They claimed that some of the terminated protesters were not directly involved in the events, an assertion that Google vehemently denied.

Google confirmed the termination of additional employees in a statement but did not disclose the exact number. The company explained that it took longer to identify some of the participants because their faces were concealed by masks and they were not wearing their employee badges.

The No Tech for Apartheid Campaign argued that Google executives were embarrassed by the strength shown by workers during the sit-ins and criticized the company's response. They accused Google of targeting any employee who was physically present at the protests, even if they were not directly involved in the campaign.

The protests began on April 16, with rallies held outside Google offices in support of ending the Project Nimbus cloud computing contract. During the sit-ins, dozens of employees sat for hours, resulting in nine individuals being arrested for trespassing.

The No Tech for Apartheid Campaign pledged to continue demanding that Google drop Project Nimbus, protect Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim employees, and reinstate the terminated workers.

Last week, Google fired the first 28 employees for violating company policies on employee conduct and harassment. In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional workplace while preserving a culture of open discussion.

The protests in the tech industry have intensified amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Gaza Strip has endured significant bombardment, resulting in the loss of numerous lives and escalating tensions.

Google has defended its cloud computing contracts with various governments, including Israel's, stating that they do not involve sensitive or military-related workloads. Former Google employees, however, expressed skepticism about the company's ability to enforce terms of service and called for greater transparency.

As the fallout from the protests continues, more than 500 Google employees are rallying behind a colleague who alleges retaliation by being ordered to relocate to another continent.

Google's decision to terminate more employees highlights the challenges the company faces in navigating its internal culture, external advocacy, and business partnerships in an increasingly politically charged climate.