“Shame on you all. You’re all hypocrites.” Microsoft’s 50th anniversary disrupted

As salaamu alaykum, Indiana Jones—

Microsoft workers disrupted Microsoft's 50th anniversary, turning the corporate backslapping into a call for accountability for human rights and an end to Microsoft's role in Israel's AI-powered massacres of Palestinians.¹

When Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was taking the stage, Microsoft engineer Ibtihal Aboussad stood up and called him a "war profiteer" and told him to "stop using AI for genocide."² We've just learned that she and another protester have been fired.³

Support Microsoft workers, and tell Microsoft to stop partnering with Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Microsoft continues to claim that it "adheres to the highest standards of business practices" despite three investigations that expose the company's entrenched partnership with Israel's military operations. We now know that Israel's military used Microsoft's cloud platform (Azure), a "suite of communications and messaging systems," and millions of dollars of engineering support to carry out its genocidal assaults on Gaza.⁴

Since breaking the ceasefire and resuming attacks on Gaza on March 18th, Israel, with Microsoft's support, has been bombarding Gaza at a pace and severity that has led people in Gaza to write farewell letters to loved ones and those of us who are bearing witness.⁵

The "appallingly little outrage" to the murders of journalists, aid workers, and over 50,000 men, women, and children in Gaza will haunt our collective humanity forever.⁶

The outrage and sorrow we feel must be accompanied by action.

Take action with us — and support the Microsoft workers organizing to cut the company's ties with Israel's military.

Microsoft and other tech partners, like Google and Amazon, are helping redefine the ugly underbelly of U.S. technology's use in war.

We've set up a digital action where you can send emails to Microsoft leadership, including AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, with just a few clicks.

Thank you for everything you do.

In solidarity,

Granate, Linda, Zara, and the team at MPower Change

P.S. Want to support our work towards justice for all people, and against white supremacy and Islamophobia? Sign up for a recurring MPower Change gift now.

 

Sources:

1. "Microsoft birthday celebration interrupted by employees protesting use of AI by Israeli military," CNBC, April 4, 2025.
2. "Microsoft employee disrupts 50th anniversary and calls AI boss 'war profiteer,'" The Verge, April 4, 2025.
3. "No Azure for Apartheid," No Azure for Apartheid Instagram, (accessed April 7, 2025).
4. "The Israeli Military Is One of Microsoft's Top AI Customers, Leaked Documents Reveal," Drop Site, Jan. 23, 2025; "Revealed: Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war," The Guardian, Jan. 23, 2025; and "Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft, +972 Magazine in partnership with Local Call, Jan. 23, 2025.
5. "'It's only a matter of days': Palestinians bid farewell as Israel rains bombs on Gaza," Middle East Eye, April 4, 2025. 
6. "Updates: Israel issues forced evacuation orders for central Gaza," Aljazeera, April 6, 2025. 

 

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