The CEO of a well-known European tech conference has resigned after making anti-Israel statements, his company said. Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave, who was also a co-founder of the conference, stepped down from his role Saturday. A Web Summit spokesperson announced the news via an email to the Associated Press. In his apology, Cosgrave acknowledged that his statements about the Israel-Hamas war — which started when Hamas terrorists began attacking Israel on Oct.
The controversy stemmed from comments the tech CEO made on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Oct. 13. He wrote that he was "shocked" at the leaders and governments supporting Israel, which imposed a blockade of the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attacks. " shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland’s government, who for once are doing the right thing," Cosgrave wrote.
On Oct. 15, Cosgrave clarified that "what Hamas did is outrageous and disgusting" but added that "Israel has a right to defend itself, but it does not, as I have already stated, have a right to break international law." Two days later, the tech CEO wrote that "hat is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that…my aim is and always has been to strive for peace.