Topline
Israeli President Isaac Herzog recently called Elon Musk to revive negotiations for the release of hostages held in Gaza, according to multiple reports on Friday, after President-elect Donald Trump warned earlier this week there would be “hell to pay” in the Middle East if the remaining hostages were not freed before his inauguration next month.
President Donald Trump warned there would be “hell to pay” if the remaining hostages were not … [+]
Key Facts
Herzog spoke with Musk “in the last few days” at the request of hostage family members, who believed the world’s wealthiest person would be able to help secure a deal because of his relationship with Trump, CNN reported, citing sources close to Herzog and the hostage families.
The conversation included talks about placing “pressure wherever pressure can be placed” to ensure the issue is more visible, a person familiar with the conversation told the Financial Times.
Musk’s ownership of X, formerly known as Twitter, was another reason Herzog reached out to him, the Times reported, as Musk is a “key figure of one of the most important social media platforms for awareness and narrative.”
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Big Number
100. That’s the estimated number of hostages remaining in Gaza, though about a third of them are believed to be dead, according to the Associated Press.
Surprising Fact
Musk met with some hostage family members in November 2023 while meeting with Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. The billionaire traveled to Israel shortly after Musk appeared to support an antisemitic post on X, causing several companies—including Apple, Disney and IBM, among others—to pull advertising from the social media platform. During his visit, Musk called for a stop to the spread of pro-Hamas propaganda that is “convincing people to engage in murder.”
Key Background
The Gaza-based militant group Hamas took about 240 people hostage after attacking Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, though more than 100 were released after an earlier ceasefire deal. Negotiations for another ceasefire and the release of more hostages have stalled since last year, despite efforts by the Biden administration to restart negotiations. Trump has reportedly spoken with Israeli officials in recent weeks to discuss Israel’s plans in the Middle East, including unspecified issues Trump wanted resolved before and after his inauguration. In a Truth Social post earlier this week, Trump said there would be “hell to pay in the Middle East” if the remaining hostages were not freed by Jan. 20, 2025. “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit” in U.S. history, Trump added. Herzog responded to the post, saying: “We all pray for the moment we see our sisters and brothers back home!” The Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry estimates more than 45,000 people have died during the conflict, according to Al Jazeera.
Forbes Valuation
Musk is the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of $346.3 billion. Musk, who appeared alongside Trump at several events during his campaign, was Trump’s largest donor after giving more than $200 million to help get him elected.
