Web Summit co-founder Paddy Cosgrave apologized Tuesday for his comments on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, regretting not conveying “compassion,” and said he hoped peace would be reached.
The position of the Irishman Paddy Cosgrave comes a day after the Israeli ambassador to Portugal, Dor Shapira, announced that the country had canceled its participation in the Lisbon technology summit due to the statements of the co-founder of the Web Summit, who called It is scandalous”.
“To reiterate what I said last week: I unreservedly condemn the evil, repugnant and monstrous Hamas attack on October 7” and “I also call for the unconditional release of all hostages. As a father, I deeply sympathize with the families of the victims.” of this terrible act and regret for all the innocent lives lost in this and other wars,” begins Paddy Cosgrave, on the Web Summit blog.
“I unequivocally support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, I unequivocally support a two-state solution,” but “I understand that what I said, the timing in which I said it, and the way in which it was presented caused deep pain to many,” continues the co-founder of what is considered one of the largest technology summits in the world.
“To anyone who has been hurt by my words, I deeply apologize. What is needed now is compassion, and I did not convey it to you. My goal is and always has been to fight for peace” and, “ultimately, I hope be able to do it.” I hope this can be achieved with all my heart,” says Cosgrave.
In his message, he recalls that, “like so many figures around the world,” he also believes “that, when defending itself, Israel must respect international law and the Geneva Conventions, that is, not commit war crimes.”
Now, this position “applies equally to any State in any war, no country should violate these laws, even if atrocities have been committed against it,” he affirms, recalling that he has “always” been pacifist and pro-international law. .
“It is precisely in our darkest moments that we must try to defend the principles that make us civilized,” he argues.
Recall that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said last week, alongside US regional partners in Qatar, that “Israel has the right and even the obligation to defend its people and do everything possible to ensure that “What happened last Saturday will never happen again.” “, but “at the same time, the way Israel does it is important. “How any democracy should approach such a situation is important.”
To this end, “we discussed with the Israelis – we urged them – to use all possible precautions to avoid” harm to civilians, Blinken said, quoted by Cosgrave.
“In my comments, I attempted to do exactly the same as Secretary Blinken and so many others around the world: urge Israel, in its response to Hamas atrocities, not to exceed the limits of international law,” he explains.
He also highlights, in relation to the Qatar Web Summit in 2024, “Secretary Blinken’s public gratitude” to Doha “for its support in this crisis and on broader issues affecting the region”, in which he mentioned that the US. The US and Qatar “share the goal of preventing this conflict from spreading.”
In this sense, “like the US government, Web Summit believes in working with regional and global partners – including Qatar – to foster the dialogue and communication on which peace depends, and fight for a just and lasting solution to the underlying problems facing the As Secretary Blinken said: ‘One thing is certain: We cannot return to the status quo that allowed this to happen in the first place,'” he adds.
“The Web Summit has a long history of collaboration with Israel and its technology companies and I am deeply sorry that these friends have been hurt by everything I have said,” reiterating his hope that peace will be achieved.
“Dozens of companies have already canceled their participation in this conference and we encourage others to do so,” said Dor Shapira, on Monday, in a message on the social network made a publication, on the same platform, which caused a wave of criticism among several Israeli technology leaders.
“I am impressed by the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders and governments, with the particular exception of the Government of Ireland, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be be exposed as they are,” noted Paddy Cosgrave.
In reaction, the Israeli ambassador argued that, “even in these difficult times,” Cosgrave “is unable to put aside his extremist political views and denounce Hamas’ terrorist activities against innocent people.”
“We must have zero tolerance in relation to terrorist and terrorist acts,” Dor Shapira also stressed.
Many users of the social network X also reacted with criticism to the publications of the co-founder of Web Summit, sharing the hashtag #cancelwebsummit.
The Web Summit was founded in 2009 and took place in Dublin until 2016, when it moved to Lisbon, where last year it welcomed more than 71,000 people from 160 countries. The next edition will be held between November 13 and 16.
In addition, the company also organizes the Collision conferences in Toronto and Rise in Hong Kong, as well as Web Summit events in Rio de Janeiro and Doha.
The Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 7 with the launch of thousands of rockets and the incursion of armed militiamen by land, sea and air.
In response, Israel has been bombing several Hamas infrastructures in the Gaza Strip and imposed a siege on the territory, cutting off water, fuel and electricity supplies.
Source: TSF
