The Web Summit, one of the world’s largest technology conferences, has lost some of its major sponsors and speakers after its founder made controversial remarks about Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks in October 2021.
Meta, Google, Intel, Siemens, and several celebrities and tech figures have announced their withdrawal from the event, which is scheduled to take place in Lisbon on November 13-16.
The boycott was triggered by a post on social media platform X by Paddy Cosgrave, the Irish entrepreneur who co-founded the Web Summit in 2009. Cosgrave wrote that he was “shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments” and accused Israel of committing war crimes against the Palestinians.
Cosgrave later apologized for his words, saying that he “unreservedly” condemns Hamas’s “evil, disgusting and monstrous” attack on Israel and “unequivocally” supports Israel’s “right to exist and to defend itself.” He also said that he did not convey compassion and that he respects the views of those who disagree with him.
However, his apology did not appease some of his critics, who said that he had crossed a line and damaged the reputation of the Web Summit as a platform for innovation and dialogue.
Read also: Africa Money and DeFi Summit showcases nine businesses to investors in Ghana
What is the Web Summit?
The Web Summit is an annual event that brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, journalists, and celebrities from the tech industry and beyond. It covers topics ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to climate change and social justice.
The Web Summit was founded in Dublin, Ireland, where it was held until 2016. Since then, it has moved to Lisbon, Portugal, where it has attracted more than 70,000 attendees from over 160 countries. The event also hosts satellite conferences in other locations, such as Collision in Toronto, RISE in Hong Kong, and MoneyConf in Dublin.
The Web Summit is known for its impressive lineup of speakers, which have included former US President Barack Obama, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, physicist Stephen Hawking, musician Bono, and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This year’s speakers were supposed to include comedian Amy Poehler, actor Gillian Anderson, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa.
What is the conflict between Israel and Hamas?
The conflict between Israel and Hamas is a long-standing and complex one that involves historical, religious, political, and territorial issues. Hamas is a militant Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave that borders Israel and Egypt. Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and has waged several wars against it since its founding in 1987.
The latest round of violence erupted on October 7, 2021, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel with rockets and drones. The attack killed 14 Israeli civilians and one soldier and wounded more than 100 others. Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire on Gaza, killing 256 Palestinians, including 128 civilians and at least 80 militants. The fighting lasted for 11 days until Egypt mediated a ceasefire on October 18.
The attack by Hamas was widely condemned by the international community as a terrorist act that violated the previous ceasefire agreements. Israel said that it acted in self-defense and targeted only military sites and operatives of Hamas and its allies. The Palestinians said that they were protesting against Israel’s occupation and oppression of their land and people.
The conflict also sparked protests and clashes in other parts of the region, such as the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iran. The UN warned that the situation could escalate into a wider war if not contained. The US called for calm and urged both sides to resume dialogue and negotiations for a peaceful solution.
History of the Web Summit
The Web Summit is a technology conference that started in 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded by Paddy Cosgrave, David Kelly, and Daire Hickey, who wanted to create a platform for innovation and dialogue in the tech industry. The Web Summit covers topics such as internet technology, emerging technologies, and venture capitalism, and attracts thousands of attendees from over 160 countries.
The Web Summit moved to Lisbon, Portugal in 2016, where it has been held ever since. The event also hosts satellite conferences in other locations, such as Collision in Toronto, RISE in Hong Kong, MoneyConf in Dublin, and Web Summit Rio in Brazil.
The Web Summit is known for its impressive lineup of speakers, which have included former US President Barack Obama, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, physicist Stephen Hawking, musician Bono, and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Some of the partners of the Web Summit include Google, Amazon, Cisco Systems and Microsoft
The Web Summit faced a backlash over the founder’s comments on X (formerly Twitter) about the Israel-Hamas war. Cosgrave criticized Israel’s actions and accused it of committing war crimes against the Palestinians. This led to several sponsors and speakers withdrawing from the event, such as Meta, Google, Intel, Siemens, and David Marcus. Cosgrave later apologized and defended Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself.
