The Moroccan software engineer and Harvard graduate Al Saad recently made international news for her protest against Microsoft's alleged involvement in supplying AI technology to the Israeli military during the Gaza conflict. During Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration, she interrupted a speech by AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, “You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military,” Aboussad shouted at Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. "
Over fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.” Suleyman is also of Arab descent.

 

Suleyman calmly tried to de-escalate the situation. “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” he said. Aboussad continued, shouting that Suleyman and “all of Microsoft” had blood on their hands. "You're all war profiteers!" She then threw onto the stage a keffiyeh scarf, which is a symbol of support for Palestinian people, before being escorted out of the event according to Al Manar TV.

 

The protest began as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was presenting product updates and a long-term vision for the company’s AI assistant product Copilot to an audience that included Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.

The incident has raised concerns about corporate ethics, free speech, and the use of AI in military operations.

 

The Microsoft employee group No Azure for Apartheid, which advocates for the termination of all Azure contracts and partnerships with the Israeli military and government, commented on the terminations Monday, writing, "Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal have both been officially fired by Microsoft over calls for disrupting the shameful Microsoft 50th anniversary."

 

Agrawal had already given her two weeks' notice and was preparing to leave the company on April 11, but on Monday, a manager emailed that Microsoft “has decided to make your resignation effective immediately, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting

April 7, 2025."

 

Yesterday, the Oregon Public Broadcasting also reported about dozens of Google workers were fired last year after internal protests over a contract it also has with the Israeli government. Employee sit-ins at Google offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California targeted a $1.2 billion deal known as Project Nimbus providing AI technology to the Israeli government.

 

An investigation by The Associated Press revealed earlier this year that AI models from Microsoft and Open AI had been used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing targets during the recent wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

 

Aboussad is of Moroccan origin and a Harvard graduate software developer has worked at Microsoft’s Canadian headquarters in Toronto. Not only has she protested Microsoft but also announced that she resigned from her job, which is contrary to Microsoft's claim that she was fired.

 

Less than 24 hours after her honorable act, her accounts were deleted, expelled from Microsoft’s Canadian headquarters in Toronto, and she was digitally isolated contrary to Microsoft's claim. 

 

Abussad has since received many jobs offers

 

Upon learning of Ibtihal's story, Kuwaiti businessman Abdullah Al-Dubos offers a golden job to the Moroccan heroine, who exposed and revealed Microsoft's complicity in the crimes of genocide in Gaza. She has already received dozens of jobs offers around the world because she is a super competent. A very nice reward for her, we wish her the best for the future.

 

May Allah bless her for her courage and her sacrifice to help the Palestinian people as she sacrificed her career to stand on the side of justice.  The story of this heroine from Morocco should be shared widely. She also has a great job offer because she is not only super-competent, but she also has a lioness' heart. A very nice reward for her act of courage and compassion. I do wish her the best for the future.

 

Roar loud enough, and the world will have no choice but to listen—just like a lioness.

"Strength isn’t just physical; it’s the fire that burns within a woman’s soul, much like a lioness' heart.”

 

Finally, Dr. Sumaya Hamadmad of Columbus, Ohio, who is one of the most distinguished members of the Central Ohio Muslim community, wrote a Facebook post in defense of Aboussad that summed up the sentiment of many pro-Palestinian advocates, "Silence is complicity, but small things can make a difference." This is what Ibtihal, the rebellious Microsoft employee, said in an email to her colleagues. Ibtihal certainly thought a lot before doing what she did, and an inner voice repeatedly asked her, "What is the point of this action you are taking? What impact will it leave?" Wouldn't it be better to maintain the work you've worked so hard for and support the people of Gaza financially? Wouldn't that be more effective, practical, and meaningful? Who are you to make a difference that stops a genocide the entire world has conspired against?

 

Dr. Hamadmad ended her post by saying, "But Ibtihal believed in the value of small things and in the individual's ability to act, change, and leave an impact. Perhaps she overcame all the whispers of her inner voice with her prayer." O God, inspire us to do what Ibtihal has done… and grant us faith in its benefits… and the courage to do it… and protect us from helplessness.

 

 

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelancer for Islamicity.com and ColumbusFreepress.com. He can be reached at elyousseph6@yahoo.com.

 

Image credit:  Google image search negative.  Image via social media.