Microsoft has dismissed two employees who led a public protest during the company’s recent 50th anniversary celebration, in opposition to its cooperation with the Israeli military.
According to an AP report, the protestors interrupted live speeches, accusing Microsoft of supplying the Israel Defense Forces with artificial intelligence technology used in Gaza operations.
Public Disruption During Live Event
One of the protesters, identified as Abousaad, confronted Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s head of AI, during his address. She accused the company of complicity in the Gaza conflict and then threw a keffiyeh scarf toward the stage before being removed by security.
The second employee had already announced her resignation prior to the event but was ordered to leave the venue immediately following the disruption.
Microsoft: Protest “Violated Company Policy”
Microsoft released a statement saying the employees “crossed clear lines of conduct” and disrupted a “planned public event.” The company defended the dismissals, stating that the protest undermined internal policy and professional expectations.
A group of current and former employees known as “No Azure for Apartheid” claimed the terminations were anticipated, noting that Microsoft had revoked the employees’ access to internal systems days before the event.
This is not the first internal protest at a major tech firm regarding business ties to Israel. Last year, dozens of Google employees were terminated after protesting a government contract between Google and Israel.
