Tech giant Microsoft has dismissed employees who opposed the company’s involvement in supplying artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the Israeli military.
The terminations occurred during Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebrations, when engineer Ibtehal Abusaad disrupted a keynote by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, voicing concerns over the company’s role in supporting military actions in Gaza.
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Abusaad accused Microsoft of aiding a humanitarian crisis, stating, “You claim to use AI for good, but Microsoft is selling AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty thousand people are dead — Microsoft is fueling genocide.”
Microsoft claimed the protest was a disruption aimed at gaining publicity and terminated her employment. Another employee, Vania Aggarwal, was also let go days before her planned leave. While Microsoft maintained she had already resigned, her involvement in earlier protests raised doubts about the timing.
In a statement, Microsoft reiterated its support for employees’ right to protest but stressed that disruptions to business operations would not be tolerated.
This incident echoes a similar case at Google, where multiple employees were fired after opposing the company’s AI-related defense contracts with Israel. The episode adds fuel to the wider debate over ethical AI use, particularly in military and conflict settings
