Paddy Cosgrave Apologizes For Controversial Comments On Israel-Hamas Conflict On Web Summit

Paddy Cosgrave, Chief Executive and Web Summit founder (photo: screenshot/ary/voi.id)

JAKARTA - Paddy Cosgrave, Chief Executive and founder of Web Summit, on Tuesday 17 October apologized for comments he made regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict, the comments led some technology companies and investors to cancel plans to attend the conference in Portugal next month.

Web Summit, one of the largest technology conferences in the world, will be held in Lisbon from November 13-16, with participants from companies like Meta and Microsoft to investors like Atomicico.

Cosgrave was criticized for posting on social media platform X on Friday over Israel's deadly airstrikes against the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a mass massacre by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel on October 7.

"I am shocked by the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders and governments, with special exceptions from the Irish government, which for once is doing the right thing," wrote Cosgrave in the post, possibly referring to the response of Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, that Israel was carrying out collective penalties.

First, what Hamas did is outrageous and disgusting. It is by every measure an act of monstrous evil. Israel has a right to defend itself, but it does not, as I have already stated, have a right to break international law.Second, here’s the host of the most watched chat show in… pic.twitter.com/HDdl2MrgfC

— Paddy Cosgrave (@paddycosgrave) October 15, 2023

First, what Hamas did was outward and alleged. It is by every measure an act of monstrous alien. Israel has a right to defend itself, but it does not, as I have already stated, have a right to break international law.Cond, heres the host of the most watched chat show in... pic.twitter.com/HDdl2MrgfC

"War crimes are still war crimes, even when committed by allies, and must be called as they are," wrote Cosgrave, who was born in Ireland.

Cosgrave, who on Sunday 15 October condemned Hamas' attack on 7 October, said in a statement on Tuesday: "I understand that what I said, the time when I said it, and the way it was presented, has caused sadness to many people. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I sincerely apologize."

"Irisan waktu ini membutuhkan kecepahan, dan itu tidak saya sampaikan," kata Cosgrove, dikutip dari Reuters.

Among the executives who canceled their attendance on the Web Summit were Ori Goshen of AI21 Labs; Keith Peiris of Tome; Sequoia Capital partner Ravi Gupta; Yinon Costica, co-founder of Wiz, Israel's cybersecurity unicorn; and Garry Tan of Y Combinator, according to posts on LinkedIn and X.

Philippe Botteri, CEO of technology investor Accel, said in a LinkedIn post on Monday, October 16 that he would no longer speak on the Web Summit.

In a statement Monday posted on X, Israel's Ambassador to Portugal, Dor Shapira, said he had written a letter to the Mayor of Lisbon informing that Israel would not participate in the conference after Cosgrave's "inappropriate statement".