Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Interrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protest Against Israeli Military Ties

Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary celebration on Friday took an unexpected turn when a group of employees staged a protest against the company’s ongoing collaboration with the Israeli military. The demonstration, which interrupted a live-streamed event at Microsoft’s headquarters, was led by Ibtihal Aboussad, who accused the company of fueling the ongoing conflict in Gaza through its involvement in military AI contracts.

The protest took place while Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI chief, was presenting updates on the company’s AI assistant product, Copilot, to a high-profile audience that included co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella.

Aboussad, visibly emotional, approached the stage during Suleyman’s speech, shouting, “Mustafa, shame on you!” She further accused Microsoft of complicity in what she termed the “genocide” in Gaza, stating, “Fifty thousand people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.”

Suleyman, acknowledging the protest, responded, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” before continuing with his presentation. Aboussad then threw a keffiyeh scarf onto the stage, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, before being escorted out by security.

The protest was not an isolated event. A second demonstrator, Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted a subsequent panel with Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella, echoing similar criticisms regarding Microsoft’s involvement in military AI systems. The protest highlighted growing internal tensions within the tech company over its collaboration with the Israeli military, particularly after an Associated Press report revealed that AI systems developed by Microsoft were used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets during recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

Microsoft’s official response emphasized its commitment to allowing employees’ voices to be heard but stressed that protests should not disrupt business operations. “We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard. Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption,” the statement said.

Although Microsoft did not confirm whether any disciplinary actions would be taken against Aboussad or Agrawal, the two protesters reported losing access to their work accounts. The incident marks a significant moment in the growing debate over the role of technology companies in global conflicts and raises ethical questions about the use of AI in warfare.