A software engineer’s dramatic mid-keynote protest against Microsoft’s ties with the Israeli military during the Gaza conflict has resulted in his swift termination, igniting further controversy surrounding the tech giant’s involvement in the region.
The incident unfolded at Microsoft’s annual Build 2025 developer conference when Joe Lopez, a software engineer at the company, interrupted CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote address. Lopez, fueled by concerns over Microsoft’s partnership with the Israeli army amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, shouted from the audience, “Satya, how about you show them how Microsoft is killing Palestinians? How about you show them how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure?”
Security personnel promptly escorted Lopez out of the Seattle Convention Center. As he was being led away, he reiterated his stance, declaring, “As a Microsoft worker, I refuse to be complicit in this genocide.”
According to ‘No Azure for Apartheid,’ a group comprising Microsoft employees advocating for an end to the company’s contracts with the Israeli military and government, Lopez received a termination letter following his protest.
In an email sent to fellow Microsoft employees shortly after the incident, Lopez challenged the company’s assertions regarding the use of its Azure cloud service in Gaza. He contested the claim that Azure technology is not used to target civilians, stating that data stored on the cloud could be used to “destroy cities and exterminate Palestinians.”
This was not an isolated incident at the Build 2025 conference. Several other pro-Palestine protests occurred during the event, including disruptions of at least three sessions, temporary silencing of a livestream’s audio, and demonstrations outside the venue. Notably, Vani Agarwal, a former Microsoft software engineer previously fired for similar protests, and Hosam Nasr, another laid-off Microsoft employee, confronted Neta Habibi, the company’s head of security for AI. Days prior, a Palestinian tech employee interrupted a keynote speech by Microsoft executive Jay Parekh with cries of “Jay! My people are suffering.”
Microsoft has acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military. However, the company maintains that its internal reviews and external fact-finding have found no evidence that its Azure cloud or AI tools have been used to directly target or harm civilians in Gaza. They state that their relationship with the Israeli Ministry of Defense is a “standard commercial relationship” subject to their acceptable use policies and AI Code of Conduct, emphasizing their commitment to human rights. Microsoft also mentioned providing limited emergency support to the Israeli government following the October 7, 2023, attacks to aid in hostage rescue efforts, with significant oversight to ensure adherence to their principles.
Despite these assurances, discontent within Microsoft’s employee base appears to be growing. The ‘No Azure for Apartheid’ group claims the company has blocked internal emails containing terms like “Palestine” and “Gaza,” alleging censorship of political dissent. Microsoft has previously fired employees who voiced opposition to its involvement with Israel, including during its 50th-anniversary celebrations.
The company has stated that thousands of politically charged emails were sent internally in recent days, leading to measures aimed at reducing such messages for employees who have not opted in for political discussions, clarifying that emailing large numbers of employees on non-work-related topics is inappropriate and that an opt-in forum exists for political discussions.
The ongoing controversy highlights the complex ethical considerations and internal tensions that tech companies face as their advanced technologies become intertwined with geopolitical conflicts. While Microsoft defends its partnerships and denies misuse of its services, the repeated protests from its own employees underscore the deep divisions and concerns surrounding the company’s role in the Israel-Palestine conflict.