Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, will donate all its advertising revenue associated with the conflict in Gaza to hospitals in Israel and the Red Cross/Crescent in Gaza; Musk made the announcement on X.
This decision comes amidst intense fighting between the Israel Defence Force and Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza, resulting in over 13,000 casualties due to Israeli bombardments in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
The conflict has left significant hospitals, including Al Shifa in Gaza, nearly non-functional, facing critical supply shortages. Israel asserts that Hamas uses these facilities to conceal military command posts and fighters, a claim denied by both Hamas and hospital staff.
Last month, Musk also revealed that his satellite network, Starlink, would provide connectivity to recognized aid organizations in Gaza. This support became crucial after communication and internet services were disrupted in the region. Starlink, developed by Musk’s SpaceX, aims to provide low-cost internet access to remote areas and plans to deploy as many as 42,000 satellites in its mega constellation.
However, ‘X’ has been grappling with a decline in advertiser support, with concerns arising about ads appearing alongside controversial content, including pro-Nazi materials and hate speech. Major companies, such as IBM, NBCUniversal, and Comcast, parent company of NBCUniversal, have ceased advertising on ‘X.’
Musk responded to concerns about fund allocation, stating that funds would be tracked and go through the Red Cross/Crescent to ensure they do not reach the Palestinian terror group Hamas. “We will track how funds are spent through Red Cross/Crescent. Better ideas are welcome. We should care about the innocent regardless of race, creed, religion, or anything else,” he said.
Despite these philanthropic efforts, Musk’s controversial posts, including recent endorsements of an antisemitic conspiracy theory, have contributed to heightened tensions on the platform. Advertisers remain cautious due to concerns about the platform’s content and Musk’s controversial statements, leading to legal actions against organizations reporting such issues.
