Elon Musk travelled to Israel and met with PM Netanyahu on Monday, touring the scene of a Hamas attack in a visit that appeared aimed at calming the outcry over his endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X. Several brands suspended their advertising on X after Musk agreed with a post that accused Jewish communities of pushing “hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.”
On Tuesday, after arriving in Israel, Musk wrote on X that “actions speak louder than words.” He toured Kfar Azza, an Israeli kibbutz where dozens of people were killed during the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct.7. In a conversation with Netanyahu broadcast on X, Musk called the visit to Kfar Azza “jarring” and said he also had been shown footage of the Oct. 7 massacre that he found “troubling.” Musk said it was important to “get rid of the ones who are hellbent on murdering Jewish people”, though he also added it was important to minimise civilian casualties.
Israel also appeared to reach an understanding with Musk over his proposal to deploy Starlink, the satellite internet service he owns, in Gaza for aid agencies to use amid internet blackouts. Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, said Musk had consented not to open access to the system in Israel and in Gaza without the permission of his ministry. “This understanding is vital,” he said.