Musk Visits Israel Amid 'Anti-Semitism Controversy'
Meets Hostage Families, Pledges "Solidarity"
Reluctant to Accept Hamas' Invitation to "Come to Gaza Strip"
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, visited Israel amid 'anti-Semitism controversy,' and Hamas, the Palestinian armed faction at war with Israel, publicly invited Musk to the Gaza Strip.
Hamas also says "Come to Gaza" in response to Musk's visit to Israel... Musk declines
On the 28th (local time), according to major foreign media, Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas' political bureau, held a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, and stated, "We hope he (Musk) visits Gaza so that the extent of the massacre and destruction inflicted on the residents of Gaza can be judged by objective and reliable standards."
This is interpreted as a reaction to Musk's visit to Israel the previous day.
However, Musk said it is difficult to accept the invitation at this time and declined.
Musk expressed reluctance on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying, "It looks a bit dangerous there for now," regarding Hamas' invitation, but added, "However, I firmly believe that a prosperous Gaza Strip in the long term would be good for everyone."
Earlier, Musk publicly sympathized with posts on X claiming anti-Semitic conspiracies, which sparked controversy and led to a mass departure of advertisers from X. It appears he visited Israel to manage the situation.
In response, Israel conveyed to Musk that if SpaceX's satellite internet network Starlink, led by Musk, is to be serviced in the Gaza Strip, permission from Israeli authorities must be obtained.
"Hamas must be eliminated"… Pledges solidarity meeting with Israeli Prime Minister and hostages' families
On the 27th (local time), Musk commented on his video post showing him wearing a necklace received from the families of hostages, which was posted on the X (formerly Twitter) account of the Israeli President's Office of Isaac Herzog, saying, "I will wear it every day until your loved ones are released." [Image source: Capture from X (formerly Twitter)]
Meanwhile, on the 27th, Musk toured a kibbutz (collective farm) in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas, together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A video released by the Prime Minister's office showed Musk wearing a bulletproof vest, escorted by security guards, taking photos and videos of the kibbutz site with his mobile phone.
Musk also echoed Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement that "Hamas must be eliminated," saying, "There is no choice."
At a meeting with families of hostages abducted by Hamas, a woman showed Musk a video on her phone depicting her son severely injured after being kidnapped by Hamas.
Another hostage's father gifted Musk a metal dog tag necklace inscribed with the phrase, "Our hearts are held hostage in Gaza."
Upon receiving the necklace, Musk immediately wore it around his neck and promised to continue wearing it until the hostages are released.
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