Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave resigns after posting an anti-Israel post on X

Tech conference Web Summit CEO, Paddy Cosgrave has resigned a week after his pro-Palestine post on X, formerly Twitter.

Cosgrave posted condemning Israel’s collective punishment on Gazans, describing Israel’s attacks on civilians as war crimes. His post resulted in a backlash. Alphabet’s Google and Meta Platforms and other companies and investors pulled out the Web Summit technology.

“Unfortunately, my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our start-ups and the people who attend,” Cosgrave said in a statement on Saturday.

To repeat: War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies & should be called out for what they are.

I will not relent.

— Paddy Cosgrave (@paddycosgrave) October 16, 2023