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11 months ago
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Elon Musk promised continued to support to Israel in its retaliation against Hamas while promoting the idea of a 'prosperous future' for Gaza as he continues to battle allegations that he himself has endorsed anti-Semitic tropes.
The owner of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk was on an unusual visit to Israel that began Monday morning, during a four-day pause to the fighting, and held a live online discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hearing Netanyahu describe the destruction of Hamas, which Israel has set as a war goal, as necessary for any prospective peace with the Palestinians, Musk sounded his general agreement for such objectives during an X Spaces discussion.
'There's no choice,' said Musk, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX, adding: 'I'd like to help as well.'
'Those that are intent on murder must be neutralized,' Musk said. 'The propaganda must stop that is training people to be murderers in the future. And then, making Gaza prosperous. And if that happens, I think it will be a good future.'
As part of his visit to Israel, Musk was shown a 44 minute long film detailing the atrocities that took place on October 7
In a poignant moment, the Tesla founder was shown a baby's crib that now contains expelled gun shells from that fateful day
Earlier this month, Musk was roundly criticized for his response to this message on X
An hour before Musk was seen being shown through the devastated area, he tweeted: 'Actions speak louder than words,' an apparent swipe at his critics
An hour before Musk was seen being shown through a devastated kibbutz in the southern part of the country, he tweeted: 'Actions speak louder than words,' an apparent swipe at his critics.
Less than two weeks ago, Musk replied to a social media post featuring an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory calling it 'the actual truth.'
During his conversation with Netanyahu, Musk called his visit to the war-torn areas of Israel as 'jarring' and described the videos he was shown of the attack as 'troubling.'
The prime minister used much of the conversation to justify the bombardment of Gaza with Musk saying that it was vital to 'get rid of the ones who are hellbent on murdering Jewish people while also brining up the need to minimize civilian casualties.
The SpaceX founder is also working with Israeli officials to allow Starlink, his service that provides internet access to areas that typically do not have it, to operate in Gaza.
Government officials banned its use, alleging that it was not be used by aid workers but rather by Hamas terrorists.
Israel's communications minister Shlomo Karhi tweeted on Monday that an 'understanding is vital' between Musk and his department in order for Starlink to become operational.
Earlier on Monday, Musk walked with Netanyahu through the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where 62 people were savagely murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
In a video released by the Israeli government, Musk is shown in a small flak jacket solemnly listening as a member of the IDF explains how the terror unfolded on that fateful day. The South African remains silent, stopping only to take pictures of the ravaged community.
Kfar Aza was among the 20 or so kibbutz that were ransacked and assaulted by Hamas. Among the homes visited by Musk was that of the community's security chief Ofir Libstein, who died while trying to repel Hamas terrorists.
Since the barbaric assault perpetrated by Hamas, Musk has faced waves of criticism for turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism on X, formerly known as Twitter. That criticism has led to a reported loss in ad revenue.
In a particularly poignant moment, the Tesla founder was shown a baby's crib that now contains expelled terrorist gunshot shells.
Musk was also told about 4-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, the Israeli-American who was just released yesterday after spending six weeks in captivity after her parents were slaughtered by gunmen.
Netanyahu and Musk inside one of the homes that now lies empty in Kfar Aza
Four-year-old orphan Abigail Mor Edan was released Sunday after 49 days in captivity, she celebrated her birthday as a hostage, on Monday Musk was shown her former home
'Netanyahu showed Musk the horrors of the massacre in the kibbutz from the events of the Saturday of October 7,' a statement from the prime minister's office read.
'Musk heard the story of the heroism of the late Ofir Liebstein, the head of the regional council who was murdered on the morning of October 7 in an exchange of fire with terrorists who infiltrated the kibbutz,' the release also said.
Netanyahu last met with Musk in California on Sept. 18 and urged him to strike a balance between protecting free expression and fighting hate speech after weeks of controversy over anti-Semitic content on X.
Musk responded by saying he was against antisemitism and against anything that 'promotes hate and conflict,' repeating his previous statements that X would not promote hate speech.
Antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen in the United States and worldwide, including during the now seven-week-old war between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian faction Hamas.
Earlier this month, Musk was accused of promoting anti-Semitism again after he responded to a man who posted a screed on X criticizing a Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism campaign video.
In the video, a father is seen talking to his son about the online hatred the son has spewed, and calling him out for his rhetoric.
The X user dismissed the video, writing: 'Jewish communties (sic) have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.
Kfar Aza was among the 20 or so kibbutz that were ransacked and assaulted by Hamas, here Musk hears how the attack unfolded
At one point during his tour of the kibbutz, Musk stopped to take what looked like a video of the surroundings
Musk and Netanyahu were told by an IDF servicemember how Hamas gunmen infiltrated the kibbutz
During a video released by the Israeli government, Musk did not speak as he was told about the atrocity
The visit comes as Musk faces condemnation worldwide for the proliferation of hate speech on his social media app, X
An IDF servicemember held an umbrella over Musk's head during the visit to the now-deserted kibbutz
'I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest s*** now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don't exactly like them too much.
'You want truth said to your face, there it is.'
Musk, who has 163 million followers, replied: 'You have said the actual truth.'
The father of 11 has a long history of toying with dog-whistle rhetoric about Jewish people, in particular George Soros, who enraged him in May by selling his Tesla stock.
On Sunday, Abigail Mor Edan's grandfather, Carmel, said that even though he is filled with joy that his granddaughter is now on her way home, he knows that 'there are many people who haven't yet come back.' Abigail was the first American released in the negotiated cease-fire between Palestine and Israel.
'I greatly want them to be returned and that the IDF finish what it has promised: All the hostages [back] and Hamas [destroyed],' he said.
The grandfather has not been allowed to speak or meet with Abigail yet, but plans to smother her with kisses when they reunite.
'There's nothing to say,' he added.
The first picture of Abigail since her release: seen in a Red Cross ambulance (right) after being released by Hamas as the first American to be set free
Edan was one of 17 hostages released Sunday, 49 days after the war broke out and militants stormed her kibbutz in southern Israel.
Fighters gunned down her parents, Roy Edan, 43 and Smadar Edan, 40, in the attack.
The girl's siblings, aged ten and six, survived after hiding out for hours in the family home. Carmel Edan said he hasn't told them about their younger sister's release yet.
Abigail, who celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity, is now in the hands of Red Cross officials. President Joe Biden said, after her release, that what the youngster has endured is 'unthinkable' and that she has suffered a 'terrible trauma.'
'I wish I were there to hold her,' Biden said. 'Today she's free, and Jilly and I, together with so many Americans, are praying for the fact that she is going to be alright.'
The grandfather thanked Biden saying: 'We love him very much for all the help he is giving us, to Israel. Keep going. Keep going. We don't admire you. We love you.'
The terror group has been keeping captives since its October 7 surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. Over 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli counteroffensive.
State Department officials have yet to release the names of the other American hostages. A total of 10 Americans are currently unaccounted for.
Of the 17 hostages released Sunday, 14 were Israeli, while three were foreign citizens.
Appearing on ABC's 'This Week,' National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said two women, one child and seven men were confirmed to have been taken by Hamas.
'All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,' Biden said in an address from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was celebrating Thanksgiving.
Earlier that day, the president was briefed multiple times by his national security team on the latest developments regarding the hostage release from Gaza.
'This morning I've been engaged with my team as we begin the first difficult days of implementing this deal,' Biden said. 'It's only a start but so far it's gone well.'
He noted how the first group of hostages included 'an elderly woman, a grandmother and mothers with their young children, some under the age of six years old.'
The sides are currently in a truce under which Israel has been recovering some of the 240 people Hamas took hostage during a cross-border killing spree on Oct 7. In exchange, Israel has been freeing some Palestinians jailed on security grounds.
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