'Blood on your hands': Indian-American techie confronts Microsoft CEOs on live stage; know why and what happened next

Vaniya Agrawal (Photo Source: X)

Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebrations at its Redmond, Washington headquarters last Friday were marred by pro-Palestinian protests in what came as the latest backlash over the company’s work to supply artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military.

The protest began during a presentation by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, when software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted, accusing the company of enabling violence in Gaza through its AI technology. She was escorted out after throwing a keffiyeh scarf onto the stage.

Later, during a segment featuring former and current CEOs Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, Indian-American software engineer Vaniya Agrawal, confronted the CEOs and said: “Fifty thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been murdered with Microsoft technology. How dare you. Shame on all of you for celebrating on their blood…”

Later, during a segment featuring former and current CEOs Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella, software engineer Vaniya Agrawal confronted the executives, stating, "Shame on all of you." Agrawal criticised Microsoft's reported $133 million contract with Israel's Ministry pic.twitter.com/XCiiE5rKaJ

GPlus (@guwahatiplus) April 5, 2025

Agrawal also called the company a “digital weapons manufacturer” and urged it to cut ties with Israel. She was subsequently out of the event by the security.

An investigation by The Associated Press revealed earlier this year that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI had been used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing targets during the recent wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The story also contained details of an errant Israeli airstrike in 2023 that struck a vehicle carrying members of a Lebanese family, killing three young girls and their grandmother.

In February, five Microsoft employees were ejected from a meeting with Nadella for protesting the contracts. While the February event was an internal meeting, Friday's protest was far more public — a livestreamed showcase of the company's past and future. Some employees also rallied outside the event Friday.

“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard," said a statement from the company Friday. “Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate. We are committed to ensuring our business practices uphold the highest standards.”

Microsoft declined to say whether it was taking further action, reported AP.

The report further quoted Aboussad saying she hasn't yet heard anything from the company but she and Agrawal both lost access to their work accounts after the protest and have not been able to log back in, a possible indication that they were being fired.

As per media reports, Vaniya Agrawal workers with Microsoft’s AI division. As per her LinkedIn profile, she has been working with Microsoft since September 2023. Prior to that, she mentions to have worked as software engineer at Amazon.

Following her protest, Vaniya is believed to have tendered her resignation.

"Hi all, My name is Vaniya, and after 1.5 years as a software engineer at this company, I’ve decided to leave Microsoft. My last day is next Friday, April 11. You may have seen me stand up earlier today to call out Satya during his speech at the Microsoft 50th anniversary. Here’s why I decided to leave the company, and why I spoke up today," Vaniya wrote in the email.