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Microsoft Fires Employees After On-Stage Protests Over Israel AI Contract

Two software engineers disrupted Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event, accusing the company of enabling human rights abuses in Gaza through its AI and cloud technology.

Microsoft engineer Vaniya Agrawal was escorted out after disrupting a company event
CORRECTS DATE - A pro-Palestinian demonstrator, Ibtihal Aboussad, is escorted away by security as they interrupt Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman during a presentation of the company's AI assistant, Copilot, ahead of a 50th Anniversary presentation at Microsoft headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Vaniya Agrawal, a software engineer II at Microsoft, had confronted her bosses over the alleged 'genocide' by Israel.
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Overview

  • Microsoft terminated Ibtihal Aboussad for alleged misconduct and made Vaniya Agrawal's resignation effective immediately following their protests at the company’s 50th anniversary event.
  • The employees accused Microsoft of facilitating human rights violations in Gaza through a $133 million cloud and AI contract with Israel’s Ministry of Defense.
  • Aboussad interrupted a speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, calling him a 'war profiteer,' while Agrawal confronted top executives including Satya Nadella and Bill Gates.
  • Both employees were associated with the internal group 'No Azure for Apartheid,' which has criticized Microsoft’s dealings with the Israeli government.
  • Microsoft defended its actions, emphasizing that employees should use internal channels for raising concerns and citing the disruptions as violations of company policy.