During Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event at its Redmond headquarters, employees Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal protested the company’s alleged involvement in Gaza. Both criticized Microsoft’s ties with Israel during speeches by top executives.
During Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event at its Redmond, Washington headquarters, an Indian-American software engineer Vaniya Agrawal publicly confronted current and former CEOs—Satya Nadella, Steve Ballmer, and Bill Gates—accusing the company of complicity in Israeli military actions in Gaza. Agrawal alleged that Microsoft’s technology, particularly its Azure cloud services and AI developments, has been instrumental in operations resulting in significant Palestinian casualties.
As security escorted her out, Agrawal condemned the executives, stating, “Shame on you all. You’re all hypocrites.” She further asserted that over 50,000 Palestinians had been killed using Microsoft’s technology and demanded the company sever ties with Israel.
Following this incident, Agrawal submitted her resignation, effective April 11, expressing her inability to remain part of an organization that, in her view, supports oppressors over the oppressed. In her resignation letter, she accused Microsoft of being complicit in Israel’s military actions against Gaza, highlighting that Microsoft’s Azure cloud services and AI technologies underpin systems used in these operations.
This protest was part of a coordinated effort by the activist group “No Azure for Apartheid,” which opposes Microsoft’s cloud-computing contracts with Israel’s Ministry of Defense. The group demands that Microsoft terminate all Azure contracts and partnerships with the Israeli military and government, disclose all ties to the Israeli state, call for a ceasefire, and ensure the safety of Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and allied employees by protecting pro-Palestinian speech and actions within the company.
Earlier during the same event, another employee, Ibtihal Aboussad, interrupted a presentation by AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, accusing Microsoft of enabling violence in the Middle East through its AI contracts with Israel. Aboussad confronted Suleyman, stating, “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide,” as she approached the stage. She criticized Microsoft’s involvement with the Israeli military, highlighting a $133 million defense contract and alleging that Microsoft’s technology supports surveillance and targeting systems used in Gaza. Aboussad also addressed what she described as a culture of silencing dissent within the company, referencing previous incidents where employees faced retaliation for expressing similar concerns. She urged colleagues to support the “No Azure for Apartheid” petition and press leadership to end these contracts. Following the protest, Aboussad reported losing access to her work accounts, indicating potential disciplinary measures.
