Paddy Cosgrave, founder and Chief Executive of Web Summit, has resigned after his statement on the ongoing Israel-Gaza war sparked a huge controversy. 

Mr Cosgrave, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), had said, “War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are.” He was referring to Israel’s counterstrikes on Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7.

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

Mr Cosgrave’s post drew criticism from people on the social media platform. 

Apology

Following this, Paddy Cosgrave issued an apology in a blog post. He said, “Unfortunately, my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our startups and the people who attend. I sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused.”

The apology came days after investors and technology companies decided to give the Web Summit a miss. The event is scheduled to take place from November 13 to November 16.

Companies withdraw participation

After Mr Cosgrave’s comment, tech giant Google’s spokesperson told Bloomberg that the US-based company, which was also one of the event partners, won’t attend the Summit. 

Amazon, Meta, Siemens AG and Intel have also announced that they will not attend the Summit.

Tech investor Accel CEO Philippe Botteri has said that he would not attend the Web Summit. In a post on LinkedIn, he said, “I went to the WebSummit many times in the past and was supposed to speak again this November. In light of the comments from the founder, I have no choice but to cancel my participation.”

AI21 Labs’ Ori Goshen; Tome’s Keith Peiris; Sequoia Capital partner Ravi Gupta; Yinon Costica, co-founder of Israeli cybersecurity unicorn Wiz; and Y Combinator’s Garry Tan are some of the executives who have decided to withdraw their participation from the event, reported Reuters.

Philippe Botteri, CEO of tech investor Accel, said in a LinkedIn post on Monday he would no longer speak at Web Summit.

The logo for Meta (R) (formerly Facebook) and the Google logo.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Meta and Google have pulled out of the Web Summit, one of the tech sector’s biggest annual events, after the organizer criticized Israel’s actions following the Hamas attacks, the companies said on Friday.

A spokesman for Meta confirmed to AFP that it would not take part in this year’s event, with Google telling the Irish Independent that it too would not be making the trip to Lisbon.

Irish entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of the Web Summit, wrote on social media platform X last week that he was “shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments.”

“War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are,” Mr. Cosgrave wrote on October 13.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials.

Follow Israel-Hamas war, Day 14 LIVE updates here

Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area under attack.

More than 3,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza.

The boycott by Meta and Google follows other exits by companies and tech figures, including Intel, Siemens and U.S. comedian Amy Poehler and X-files actor Gillian Anderson.

The Web Summit is due to host some 2,300 startups and more than 70,000 people on November 13-16 in Lisbon.

Silicon Valley figure Garry Tan, of start-up backer Y-Combinator, initially kicked off the boycott and other big names in the industry quickly followed.

Mr. Cosgrave issued an apology on Tuesday.

Also read | Misinformation spirals out of control on X amid Israel-Hamas war

“I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologise deeply,” he said.

“What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that,” the statement said.

Mr. Cosgrave said he “unreservedly” condemns Hamas’ “evil, disgusting and monstrous” attack on Israel and “unequivocally” supports Israel’s “right to exist and to defend itself.”

He also said that Israel should adhere to the Geneva Conventions, “i.e., not commit war crimes.”