Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan extended an invitation to Elon Musk on Tuesday, urging him to witness firsthand the aftermath of the violence in the Gaza Strip caused by Israel. This comes after Musk’s recent visit to an Israeli kibbutz targeted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack.
Hamdan, in a press conference in Beirut, called on Musk to visit Gaza and observe the extent of the destruction, emphasizing the need for objectivity and credibility. He highlighted the impact of over 40,000 tonnes of explosives dropped by Israel on the homes of Gazans within a 50-day period.
Musk, who recently met with Israel’s prime minister and president, faced criticism for alleged anti-Semitism and promoting violence on his social media platform. During his visit to Israel, Musk expressed shock at the decimated kibbutz of Kfar Aza and argued that Israel had “no choice” but to eliminate Hamas.
In a notable shift, Musk agreed that Starlink satellite units would only operate in Israel with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, including the Gaza Strip. This marked a departure from his earlier consideration of providing Starlink to enhance communications in Gaza.
Hamdan also called on the US to reconsider its relationship with Israel, urging them to halt weapon supplies. Additionally, he appealed to the international community to promptly send specialized civil defense teams to aid in the retrieval of bodies from beneath the rubble in Gaza.