Hamas has extended an invitation to Elon Musk, the high-profile tech billionaire, to visit Gaza and witness the extensive damage caused by Israeli strikes on the Palestinian territory.
This comes in response to Musk’s recent visit alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near the Gaza border targeted by Hamas.
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, stated during a press conference in Beirut that they invite Musk to observe the “massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza” with a commitment to objectivity and credibility.
Musk’s appearance with Netanyahu drew criticism from both Palestinians and Israelis.
However, his controversial tweets, including one endorsing an accusation against Jews and another about racial pride, were not addressed during his visit to Kfar Aza.
Instead, Musk echoed Netanyahu’s stance on the conflict, emphasizing the need to neutralize those “intent on murder” and advocating for a prosperous future in Gaza.
Musk’s visit coincided with a temporary ceasefire in the Israeli military campaign, allowing for the release of hostages by Hamas and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
Despite this pause, Netanyahu pledged to resume operations once the ceasefire concluded.
Hamas estimates the death toll in Gaza to be over 14,000 during the conflict, with accusations of Israel dropping more than 40,000 tonnes of explosives on homes in the region.
Hamdan called on U.S. President Biden to reassess its relationship with Israel and cease the supply of weapons to the country.
While Biden has historically supported Israel, recent expressions of concern about the high civilian death rate indicate a potential shift in the U.S. stance.
