Billionaire Elon Musk has declined an invitation to visit Gaza, citing safety concerns due to the ongoing conflict and Israeli bombardment in the region. In response to an invitation from Hamas, Elon Musk stated that it seemed too dangerous to visit at the moment but expressed a belief in the importance of long-term prosperity for Gaza.
A day earlier, a Hamas senior official invited Musk to visit the Palestinian Gaza Strip to witness the extent of destruction caused by the Israeli bombardment. “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,” stated Hamas’ senior official Osama Hamdan in a press conference in Beirut.
Musk, the owner of X, had a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 27, where he met Israelis whose relatives have been held by Hamas in Gaza. During the meeting, he received a symbolic dog tag from the father of a hostage in Gaza, engraved with “Our hearts are hostage in Gaza.”
President Herzog conveyed to Musk that he has a “huge role to play” in combating antisemitism, as reported by the news agency AFP. Musk has faced accusations of amplifying anti-Jewish hatred on X since taking over in October last year.
It’s worth mentioning that Israel has reached an agreement with Musk, allowing SpaceX to provide Starlink satellite internet services in Gaza only with its approval.
Diplomatic Giant Henry Kissinger Passes Away at 100
Meanwhile, renowned diplomatic figure Henry Kissinger, a key player in U.S. foreign policy as the national security adviser and secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford, passed away at the age of 100 at his Connecticut home, as announced by his geopolitical consulting firm, Kissinger Associates Inc.
Although the statement did not disclose the circumstances of his death, it outlined plans for a private family service and a subsequent public memorial service in New York City.
Henry Kissinger remained active well beyond his centenary, participating in White House meetings, publishing a leadership book, and addressing the Senate on North Korea’s nuclear threat. In a surprising move in July 2023, he visited Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
