Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration was overshadowed by a series of protests from employees decrying the company’s alleged involvement in what they describe as a “genocide” against Palestinians. The demonstrations, which took place at the tech giant’s headquarters, erupted during a high-profile event attended by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella, marking their first joint public appearance since 2014.
The protests began as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman delivered a keynote address on the company’s AI assistant, Copilot. Ibtihal Aboussad, a software engineer in the AI division, interrupted the presentation, shouting, “Mustafa, shame on you! You claim AI is for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty thousand people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region!” Aboussad threw a keffiyeh scarf—a symbol of Palestinian solidarity—onto the stage before being escorted out. Suleyman responded calmly, saying, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” though Aboussad retorted, “You do not hear us,” as she was led away.
Later in the event, a second employee, Vaniya Agrawal, publicly resigned panel featuring Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella. “Shame on you all! Fifty thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been murdered with Microsoft technology. How dare you celebrate on their blood?” Agrawal shouted before being removed. Outside, a group of employees rallied under the banner of “No Azure for Apartheid,” a coalition critical of Microsoft’s contracts with the Israeli military.
The unrest stems from reports, alleging that Microsoft’s AI models, alongside those from OpenAI, have been utilized by the Israeli military to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon. Employees like Aboussad and Agrawal argue that such technology has contributed to a death toll exceeding 50,000 Palestinians, a figure cited by Gaza’s Health Ministry as of April 2025, amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
In an email to colleagues, Aboussad explained her actions: “I spoke up because after learning my work was powering the genocide of my people in Palestine, I saw no other moral choice.” Agrawal, who later announced her resignation effective April 11, wrote, “Microsoft is complicit as a digital weapons manufacturer. I cannot in good conscience remain part of this.”
