Despite genocide in Gaza, Musk accepts Netanyahu's invitation to visit Israel

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Israel, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office, despite the ongoing Gaza genocide that has killed more than 71,000 people, mostly women and children.

Netanyahu's office said the invitation came during a recent call in which Musk had agreed to take part in a Smart Transportation Conference scheduled for March. The two also discussed cooperation with Tesla and efforts to advance legislation on autonomous vehicles.

The statement said Netanyahu and Musk spoke about "promoting and developing artificial intelligence technologies in Israel", with Netanyahu saying the aim was "to propel Israel forward and turn it into a global leader in the field".

It comes as Israel continues to deploy AI systems in Gaza, including controversial programs such as Lavender and The Gospel, which have been used to generate kill lists and target buildings, leading to widespread civilian deaths.

Since October 2023, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 71,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities, and destroyed swathes of the enclave.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extermination, persecution and starvation as a method of warfare.

Netanyahu, in the past, has called Musk "a great friend to Israel" when defending his gesture during Trump's January 2025 inauguration, which many saw as a Nazi salute.

The Tesla CEO had also visited Israel after the 7 October attacks, asserting Israel's "right" to defend itself, as well as attending Netanyahu's controversial address to the US Congress in 2024.