Microsoft has fired two of its employees, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, after they disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary celebration on April 7 at Microsoft’s campus in Washington DC, US, to protest its role in supplying AI technology to the Israeli military, according to a group representing the workers.
Both employees interrupted a speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, who was announcing new product features and outlining the company’s long-term AI vision when the incidents took place.
In a termination letter sent that same day, Microsoft accused Aboussad of misconduct “designed to gain notoriety and cause maximum disruption to this highly anticipated event.” According to Microsoft, Agrawal had already submitted her resignation, but had been ordered to leave the office days earlier.
An investigation by The Associated Press revealed that earlier in 2025, AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI had been used as part of an Israeli military programme to select bombing targets during Tel Aviv’s ongoing wars on Gaza and Lebanon.
TRT World
Both employees interrupted a speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, who was announcing new product features and outlining the company’s long-term AI vision when the incidents took place.
In a termination letter sent that same day, Microsoft accused Aboussad of misconduct “designed to gain notoriety and cause maximum disruption to this highly anticipated event.” According to Microsoft, Agrawal had already submitted her resignation, but had been ordered to leave the office days earlier.
An investigation by The Associated Press revealed that earlier in 2025, AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI had been used as part of an Israeli military programme to select bombing targets during Tel Aviv’s ongoing wars on Gaza and Lebanon.
TRT World