Microsoft recently made headlines after firing two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, for their protests during the company's 50th anniversary celebration. Both women interrupted significant portions of the event to express their opposition to Microsoft's alleged provision of AI technologies to the Israeli military, with Aboussad warning, "50,000 people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region," during a presentation by Microsoft's AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman.

Agrawal joined the protest later, condemning the executives on stage, including current CEO Satya Nadella and former heads Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. She called for Microsoft to cut ties with Israel, asserting, "Shame on all of you!" Both women's protests, part of a wider movement associated with the group No Azure for Apartheid, raised questions about technology companies' involvement in military operations.

Following the protests, Microsoft stated that their behavior was deemed "hostile, unprovoked, and highly inappropriate". While emphasizing their commitment to fostering open dialogue, the company maintained that disruptive actions would not be tolerated. They remarked, "We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard," but emphasized that such expressions must not disrupt business operations.

Agrawal, in her resignation email addressed to Nadella and other senior staff, criticized Microsoft’s entanglement with the military-industrial complex, labeling it as a "digital weapons manufacturer". She noted the urgency for Microsoft to reassess its contracts, specifically referencing a report on a $133 million agreement with Israel's Ministry of Defense and its troubling implications.

The firings reflect ongoing internal and external pressures on tech companies as they navigate corporate ethics in relation to global humanitarian crises, particularly in conflict zones like Gaza. As the situation continues to escalate, discussions surrounding corporate responsibility and employee activism are likely to intensify.

More information can be found from various sources, including TRT World and India Times.