Microsoft fires engineers after internal protest over AI use in Israeli military operations

Microsoft has dismissed two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, following public protests at company events against the use of Microsoft’s AI technologies by the Israeli military. The incidents occurred during Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebrations, where both employees interrupted speeches to accuse the company of complicity in alleged human rights violations in Palestine. Aboussad, who worked in the AI division in Canada, was fired for ‘willful misconduct’ after disrupting a speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman and sending a critical email to top executives. Agrawal, who had planned to resign, was also terminated after a similar protest directed at CEO Satya Nadella. Both employees criticized Microsoft’s role in the military-industrial complex and linked the company’s technology to surveillance and warfare. Microsoft stated that while it values employee voices, actions that cause disruption are unacceptable. The company’s response has drawn attention not only for the terminations but also for the broader ethical debate surrounding tech companies’ involvement in military projects, especially in politically sensitive conflicts. The firings have shifted media focus from Microsoft’s anniversary celebrations to internal dissent and its implications.