{"id":4101,"date":"2023-10-22T00:58:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-22T00:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infundpros.com\/business\/web-summit-ceo-paddy-cosgrave-resigns-after-backlash-to-israel-hamas-war-comments\/"},"modified":"2023-10-22T00:58:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T00:58:07","slug":"web-summit-ceo-paddy-cosgrave-resigns-after-backlash-to-israel-hamas-war-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infundpros.com\/?p=4101","title":{"rendered":"Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave resigns after backlash to Israel-Hamas war comments"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Paddy Cosgrave, the chief executive of Web Summit, stepped down Saturday after several Big Tech companies withdrew from the company\u2019s upcoming annual technology conference over his comments on the Israel-Hamas war.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cUnfortunately, my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our start-ups and the people who attend,\u201d Cosgrave said in a statement to CNN. \u201cI sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n His resignation comes a little more than a week after comments posted on X<\/a>, formerly Twitter, condemning Israel\u2019s war in Gaza. On October 13, he wrote, in part: \u201cWar crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Cosgrave also denounced the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants that killed an estimated 1,400 people in Israel, according to authorities.\n <\/p>\n

\n In the two weeks since the attacks, Israeli forces have bombarded Gaza with relentless airstrikes, killing at least 4,385 people, according to the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave, and tipping the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.\n <\/p>\n

\n A day before Cosgrave\u2019s post on X, human rights group Amnesty International said the \u201ccollective punishment\u201d of civilians in Gaza for Hamas\u2019 terrorist atrocities amounts to a war crime. The Israeli military says it does not target civilians and has warned residents to evacuate parts of Gaza.\n <\/p>\n

\n On Tuesday, Cosgrave posted a nearly 600-word statement on Web Summit\u2019s blog to apologize and clarify his stance.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI unreservedly condemn Hamas\u2019 evil, disgusting and monstrous October 7 attack. I also call for the unconditional release of all hostages,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI unequivocally support Israel\u2019s right to exist and to defend itself. I unequivocally support a two-state solution. \u2026 I also believe that, in defending itself, Israel should adhere to international law and the Geneva Conventions \u2013 ie, not commit war crimes.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n But his initial comments had been met with swift backlash from tech giants including Google parent company Alphabet, Meta, Siemens and Amazon, all of which pulled out of the conference. This year\u2019s conference was scheduled for November 13-16 in Lisbon.\n <\/p>\n

\n CNN has reached out to these companies but has not received a response.\n <\/p>\n

\n A spokesperson for Web Summit told CNN that the company will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible. \u201cWeb Summit 2023 in Lisbon will go ahead as planned,\u201d the spokesperson added.\n <\/p>\n

\n Cosgrave, 41, co-founded Web Summit in 2009 with David Kelly and Daire Hickey.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n