Microsoft employees fired after protesting AI ties to Israeli military in Gaza war
Microsoft fired two employees on 4 April 2025 after they disrupted an internal event to protest the company's provision of AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli military during the Gaza war. The action follows a pattern of internal protests since October 2023, with employees and former staff reportedly calling for Microsoft to end its ties to Israel.
What happened
Microsoft employees Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal interrupted AI executive Mustafa Suleyman at a company event on 4 April 2025 celebrating Microsoft's 50th anniversary, protesting the company's role in Israel's war on Gaza. The two employees were fired within days.
The protest followed an earlier disruption on 20 March when Microsoft president Brad Smith and former CEO Steve Ballmer were shouted down at Seattle's Great Hall by a current and former employee, preceded by an external rally where protesters projected a sign reading 'Microsoft powers genocide' referencing Israel's use of Microsoft's AI and cloud computing services since 7 October 2023.
Reported impact
Employees and former employees have called for Microsoft to cut ties with Israel, citing growing discontent that has persisted on company message boards, in emails and in calls with the company's 'workplace conflict' team for over a year.
Former Microsoft software engineer Hossam Nasr described the situation at the company as 'very close to a tipping point,' and present and past employees told the Guardian that more protests and employee departures are expected.
Index analysis
The protests reflect employee concerns about Microsoft's provision of AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli Defence Force, with the Guardian reporting that 'the IDF's insatiable demand for bombs was matched by its need for greater access to cloud computing services.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.