Lisbon, Portugal – Paddy Cosgrave, CEO of the prominent technology conference Web Summit, has resigned following backlash over his public comments accusing Israel of war crimes and violations of international law. Cosgrave, who co-founded the European tech conference in 2009, made the remarks on social media platform X, where he expressed shock at the actions of Western leaders and governments regarding Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza.

Cosgrave’s comments sparked outrage among sponsors and attendees of the Web Summit conference, prompting his resignation. In a statement, he acknowledged that his personal views had become a distraction from the event and apologized for any harm caused. Cosgrave later updated his tweet to condemn Hamas’s attack on Israel, emphasizing that while Israel has the right to defend itself, it should not break international law.

Despite his apologies and clarifications, Web Summit faced a significant blow to its reputation, with key sponsors and event headliners, including Meta, Google, and Stripe, announcing their boycott of the conference. The organizers have stated that the November event will proceed as planned but with a new CEO.

Cosgrave’s resignation is part of a larger trend of individuals facing professional consequences for expressing their views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In recent weeks, business executives have pledged to blacklist Harvard students belonging to groups that blamed Israel for the violence outbreak. Furthermore, journalists critical of Israel or supportive of Palestinians have faced suspensions or terminations.

These actions have drawn criticism from rights advocates who argue that they downplay the suffering in Gaza and create a climate of fear for workers who want to express solidarity with Palestinians. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the reactions, expressing concern that Palestinians and their supporters feel isolated and fearful of consequences for discussing the impact of the conflict.

In a letter signed by Hollywood A-listers, including Cate Blanchett and Susan Sarandon, President Joe Biden was urged to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The letter highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for international intervention to address the escalating violence.

It remains to be seen how Web Summit will navigate the aftermath of Cosgrave’s resignation and the boycott of its sponsors. The controversy surrounding public statements on the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to unfold, raising questions about the boundaries of free expression and the professional implications of taking a stance.