Microsoft has terminated two employees who disrupted its 50th anniversary celebrations with pro-Palestinian protests against the company’s alleged business ties with the Israeli government. The employees, identified as Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted speeches by top executives including Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman and co-founder Bill Gates.
According to an internal memo cited by CNBC, Microsoft described the actions as “hostile, unprovoked, and highly inappropriate.” The company emphasized that while it supports open dialogue, it will not tolerate disruptions that impact its operations or events.
Aboussad interrupted Suleyman’s keynote presentation, accusing Microsoft of enabling military actions in Gaza. “Mustafa, shame on you,” she said. “Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.” She was escorted out of the venue and later fired.
Agrawal disrupted a panel discussion involving Gates, current CEO Satya Nadella, and former CEO Steve Ballmer. Although she had already resigned from her position, Microsoft immediately terminated her employment following the incident.
Both protests were reportedly organized by “No Azure for Apartheid,” a group calling for Microsoft to sever its contracts with the Israeli government. The group alleges that Microsoft’s AI and cloud technologies are being used in ways that violate human rights.
In the memo, Microsoft stated that Aboussad could have voiced her concerns “confidentially with your manager, or with Global Employee Relations,” rather than disrupting a public event.
The company has not issued a public statement on the firings but reiterated its commitment to a respectful and inclusive workplace.