Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in Israel, the scene of a recent cross-border assault by Hamas. The two toured the Kfar Azza kibbutz, one of the Jewish communities attacked by Hamas militants, and witnessed the aftermath of the violence.
After viewing a video documenting the atrocities committed during the attack, Musk expressed his shock over the joy exhibited by Hamas militants as they killed innocent people. He emphasized that there is a clear distinction between accidental civilian casualties and intentional reveling in the killing of civilians, condemning the latter as “evil.” Musk also defended Israel, arguing that the country makes an effort to avoid killing civilians, unlike the Hamas militants.
However, Musk’s visit to Israel comes amid criticism surrounding his decision to loosen content moderation on X, formerly known as Twitter, after acquiring the platform last year. Following the Hamas attack, there has been a surge in antisemitic content on the platform, prompting concerns and condemnation from disinformation specialists and major advertisers.
Musk also faced criticism from the White House for allegedly endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X. Furthermore, his company SpaceX’s plan to operate Starlink satellites in Gaza has raised concerns from Israeli officials about potential aid to Hamas.
While Musk focused on supporting Israel and condemning Hamas during the visit, Israeli President Isaac Herzog highlighted the need to combat antisemitism and hate speech on platforms led by Musk. Musk also emphasized the impact of propaganda on inciting violence, particularly among those who have been conditioned with false narratives since childhood.
The visit to Israel underscores Musk’s involvement in critical issues surrounding tech, content moderation, and the use of satellite technology in conflict zones. Despite the controversies, Musk’s discussions with Israeli leaders shed light on the complexities of addressing hate speech, potential aid implications, and the ethical use of satellite communications.