An important Hamas figure invited Elon Musk to visit Gaza on Tuesday to view the massive damage the Israeli shelling has inflicted.
"We invite him to visit Gaza to see the extent of the massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza, in compliance with the standards of objectivity and credibility," Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said, as quoted by Reuters.
The tech mogul posted his reply to the Hamas invitation on social media, declining it due to heightened risks.
"It seems a bit dangerous there right now, but I do believe that a long-term prosperous Gaza is good for all sides," Elon Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Seems a bit dangerous there right now, but I do believe that a long-term prosperous Gaza is good for all sides
Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk spoke with Netanyahu and Herzog during his recent visit to Israel. He was briefed on the situation in Kfar Aza, where dozens of people were murdered in a Hamas strike, during his visit. Musk also met with the victims' families, underscoring his determination to counteract the propagation of hatred.
After seeing the scene of a Hamas attack on Israel, Elon Musk pledged to fight prejudice.
In this handout image provided by the GPO, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) takes Elon Musk (L) on a tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza after the October 7th Massacre took place there, on November 27, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel.Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) Handout via Getty Images
He additionally reached a consensus wherein the operation of Starlink satellite units would exclusively occur in Israel with the endorsement of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, encompassing the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, the move marks a notable shift from his earlier contemplation of offering Starlink to improve communications in Gaza, particularly in the face of recurring telecommunications outages.
Elon Musk (L) meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R) on November 27, 2023 in Jerusalem, Israel. Billionaire and boss of the social network X, Elon Musk, travelled to Israel during the truce between Israel and Hamas. Musk is due to speak with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the online fight against anti-Semitism.Haim Zach (GPO) Handout via Getty Images
Biden Urged to Reconsider US-Israel Relationship
Hamdan's call for Elon Musk's visit coincides with a temporary truce extension between Israel and Hamas for an additional 48 hours. Discussing the destruction inflicted on Gaza since October 7, Hamdan urged the international community to promptly dispatch specialized civil defense teams to aid in recovering bodies trapped under the rubble.
According to Israeli reports, the recent truce marked the first end to hostilities in the seven-week conflict that Hamas started. The incident killed 1,200 people and returned 240 captives to Gaza. In response, Israel bombarded and attacked the north, killing at least 16,000 Palestinians and displacing hundreds of thousands.
Hamdan also urged President Joe Biden to reevaluate US-Israel ties.
"Within 50 days, Israel dropped more than 40,000 tons of explosives on the homes of defenseless Gazans. I call on US President Biden to review the US relationship with Israel and to stop supplying them with weapons," he said, according to a report from The Guardian.
Pres. Joe Biden has traditionally backed Israel's military efforts, but recent concerns about the high civilian death toll imply a change. The Biden administration has called for a change in Israeli tactics before expanding the conflict into southern Gaza.
