In a move seen by many as a quiet response to growing global outrage over the war on Gaza, American e-commerce giant eBay has announced the closure of its research and development centre in Israel after nearly two decades of activity.

The decision will leave around 200 employees without work, marking the end of the company’s core software development operations in the country. While eBay cites strategic restructuring, the timing is hard to ignore. The gradual withdrawal began shortly after the Israeli assault on Gaza escalated, with an initial wave of layoffs in mid-2024.

Though eBay previously claimed its Israeli hub remained "integral" to its product strategy, the company has now confirmed that the office will close by early 2026. In its statement, eBay noted that it “continually reviews its operating model,” but did not address the ongoing genocide in Gaza an omission that speaks volumes.

As images of starving children and bombed-out hospitals circulate daily, corporate silence is increasingly seen as complicity. eBay’s move may reflect a growing discomfort in maintaining business-as-usual ties with a state accused of using famine and force to displace an entire population. Whether this is an ethical stance or a calculated retreat, one thing is clear: Gaza’s suffering is no longer just a humanitarian crisis it is changing the global business map.