Microsoft employee fears code may be used in Gaza attacks
A protestor confronts Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman during an event highlighting Microsoft Copilot agents, the company's AI tool, on April 4, 2025 in Redmond, Washington. (AFP Photo)
A Microsoft software engineer who interrupted the company’s 50th anniversary event has voiced fears that her work is being used in military operations in Gaza, highlighting growing employee dissent over Microsoft’s contracts involving artificial intelligence tools and the Israeli military.
During a keynote speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted the event, accusing the company of providing AI technology to Israel.
Her protest occurred in front of an audience that included co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.
“We cannot be celebrating while people in Palestine are getting murdered thanks to Microsoft,” Aboussad said in a statement to local media. “My biggest concern is knowing that our code is contributing to bombing, surveillance, and targeting of innocents.”
Protest disrupts Microsoft anniversary celebration
As Suleyman discussed plans for Microsoft’s Copilot product, Aboussad approached the stage, calling out Microsoft’s AI partnerships with the Israeli military.
She accused the company of enabling violence through its technology and claimed, “Fifty thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.”
Suleyman responded briefly, saying, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” before Aboussad was escorted from the venue after throwing a keffiyeh onto the stage, a symbol widely associated with Palestinian solidarity.
Later in the event, another Microsoft employee, software engineer Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted a segment featuring Gates, Ballmer, and CEO Satya Nadella. “Shame on all of you. You’re hypocrites,” she shouted, accusing the company of celebrating profits while civilians in Gaza die as a result of Microsoft’s technologies.
Employees raise ethical concerns over military use
Aboussad stated she was not informed that her work would be used for military purposes. “I didn’t sign up to write code that violates human rights,” she said, expressing a fear that her daily tasks could be indirectly contributing to civilian casualties.
Agrawal, who also participated in the protest, announced her intention to resign in an internal email. “By working here, we’re all complicit,” she wrote, according to reporting by CNBC.
Outside the event, additional employees and supporters staged demonstrations, calling for Microsoft to end its technology contracts with the Israeli government.
Microsoft responds to employee actions
Microsoft issued a statement acknowledging the protests, saying the company supports multiple ways for employees to express their views. The company also stated that disruptions during events are not encouraged and that participants are asked to relocate in such cases.
The company reiterated its commitment to ensuring its business practices meet high ethical standards.
Reports highlight AI use in Israeli military operations
An investigation published by the Associated Press in early 2025 revealed that Microsoft and OpenAI’s artificial intelligence tools were reportedly used in Israeli military systems to select targets in Gaza and Lebanon.
The findings added to concerns about how commercial AI systems may be integrated into military applications without the knowledge or consent of developers.
Hamas responds to protest
Following the incident, a written statement from Hamas praised Aboussad’s actions, calling her protest a rare act of “sacrifice and courage” and urging others in the tech industry to follow her example.
The group also called on international organizations to document technological collaborations with Israel and pursue legal accountability for corporations involved.
