On Monday, Microsoft reportedly fired two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, following their public protests regarding the company’s relationships with the Israeli military during a recent event. This incident occurred at Microsoft’s Copilot launch and the celebration of its 50th anniversary.
During the event, Aboussad interrupted Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman’s keynote speech, accusing him of having “blood on his hands.” This was shortly followed by Agrawal, who shouted “shame on all of you… Cut ties with Israel” during a panel that included Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and founder Bill Gates.
In response to the protests, Microsoft issued an internal message stating that Aboussad should have addressed her concerns privately with her manager or the Global Employee Relations team, rather than disrupting the keynote presentation. This communication highlighted the company’s stance on employee behavior during corporate events.
Following the protests, Aboussad sent an email to company staff and executives, claiming that Microsoft had silenced dissenting voices among its employees. The email included a link to a petition from “No Azure for Apartheid,” a group of Microsoft employees advocating against the company’s collaborations with Israel.
This group has gained attention for its ongoing efforts to challenge Microsoft’s involvement in projects related to the Israeli military. The firings and protests have sparked discussions about corporate responsibility and the rights of employees to voice their concerns regarding ethical issues tied to their company’s operations.