Microsoft Fires Employees Who Protested Israel Contract at 50th Anniversary Event
At its high-profile 50th anniversary celebration, Microsoft fired two software engineers who disrupted the event to protest the company’s alleged involvement with the Israeli military. The terminations have sparked heated debate around employee activism, ethical AI, and corporate accountability in the tech world.
What Happened
During Microsoft’s milestone event in Redmond, Washington, attended by executives including Satya Nadella, Steve Ballmer, and Bill Gates, two employees, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, staged protests denouncing Microsoft’s reported contracts with the Israeli military. The protests were tied to the activist group No Azure for Apartheid, which opposes Microsoft’s Azure cloud and AI services being used in military operations in Gaza.
Aboussad interrupted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman’s speech, accusing Microsoft of selling AI weapons to Israel and enabling genocide. She threw a keffiyeh scarf on stage before being escorted out. Later, Agrawal interrupted a panel featuring top Microsoft leadership with similar accusations.
The Firings
Both employees were terminated shortly after the protest:
- Aboussad was informed via a video call with HR
- Agrawal received an email notification
Microsoft has not publicly commented on the firings, choosing to remain silent amid increasing media attention.
What the Protest Was About
The protesters, backed by “No Azure for Apartheid,” claim Microsoft’s cloud technologies are aiding military operations in Gaza, contributing to alleged human rights violations. They argued that their work is being used unethically and called on colleagues to either speak out or resign. Internal emails from both employees urged co-workers to reconsider their involvement in any military-related projects.
Corporate Silence and Fallout
While Suleyman acknowledged Aboussad’s protest at the time, saying, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you”, the company’s subsequent actions suggest a zero-tolerance stance on internal dissent in public forums.
This incident has reignited long-standing discussions in tech circles:
- Should employees have the right to protest their employer’s contracts and partnerships?
- Can major tech companies ethically navigate complex geopolitical issues?
- Is firing dissenting workers the right response, or a failure of corporate transparency?
Bigger Picture
This isn’t the first time a tech giant has clashed with internal protest:
- Google faced major backlash from employees over its Project Maven military AI project.
- Amazon employees have protested over AWS’s ties to law enforcement and defense agencies.
- Microsoft itself has previously faced criticism over military contracts, including the U.S. Army HoloLens deal.
The latest firings amplify those tensions at a time when AI and cloud infrastructure are becoming central to modern warfare, and when tech workers are increasingly vocal about how their tools are used.
Microsoft may have hoped to mark its 50th anniversary by showcasing its AI-powered future, but the moment instead exposed how the company’s own employees are unwilling to celebrate in silence. Whether this sparks broader internal rebellion or simply fades into a news cycle will depend on how Microsoft chooses to respond next.