By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday played host to Elon Musk, the founder of social media giant, X formerly known as Twitter amidst the ceasefire deal in conflict with Hamas.
During the visit, the US billionaire was taken on a tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a region ravaged during the 7 October attack by Hamas militants who invaded Israel from Gaza.
Musk was accompanied by Netanyahu to see first-hand the actions of Hamas in Kfar Aza in southern Israel.
Musk, wearing a protective vest and escorted by a phalanx of security personnel, used his phone to take photos or videos of the devastation, according to video footage released by Netanyahu’s office.
Musk also was due to meet Israeli president Isaac Herzog and Benny Gantz, a former defense minister who’s now part of a special war Cabinet.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy declined to say whether Musk was invited or came on his own. X did not respond to a request for comment.
Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, tweeted earlier on Monday about a deal that his ministry had reached with Musk’s Starlink satellite internet company.
“As a result of this significant agreement, Starlink satellite units can only be operated in Israel with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, including the Gaza Strip,” Karhi wrote, without providing further details.
Musk has faced accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on the platform since purchasing it last year, and the content on X has gained increased scrutiny since the war between Israel and Hamas began.
Netanyahu last met with Musk in September, when he told the Tesla CEO that he hoped he could find a way to roll back antisemitism and other forms of hatred within the limits of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
