Indian-American Engineer Confronts Microsoft CEOs Over AI’s Role in Gaza Crisis
Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration on March 4, 2025, at its Redmond headquarters was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests, drawing attention to the company’s alleged involvement in Israeli military operations. The event featured prominent figures such as co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella.
Indian-American software engineer Vaniya Agrawal interrupted a panel discussion involving Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella, condemning Microsoft’s reported $133 million contract with Israel’s Ministry of Defense. “Fifty thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been murdered with Microsoft technology. Shame on all of you for celebrating on their blood,” Agrawal declared before being escorted out of the venue. She accused the company of enabling genocide through its Azure cloud services and AI technologies.
Agrawal later sent a mass resignation email to Microsoft employees, stating her last day would be April 11. In the email, she criticized Microsoft for acting as a “digital weapons manufacturer” and violating its own human rights commitments. She urged colleagues to hold the company accountable for its actions and concluded with a call to “Free Palestine.”
Another protest occurred earlier during the event when Ibtihal Aboussad, another Microsoft employee, interrupted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman’s presentation. Aboussad accused Suleyman of profiting from war and claimed that Microsoft’s AI tools were being used to commit acts of genocide in Gaza. Suleyman responded briefly before Aboussad was removed from the venue.
These protests followed an Associated Press investigation that revealed Microsoft and OpenAI technologies were used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon. The report highlighted civilian casualties caused by misdirected airstrikes.
Microsoft has not publicly commented on the resignations or accusations but reaffirmed its commitment to ethical business practices while requesting that protests avoid causing disruptions.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified since October 2023, resulting in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gazan health authorities. Israel denies allegations of genocide, stating its actions target Hamas militants.