"It was jarring to see the scene of the massacre," Musk said, "or one of the scenes of the massacres, as well as to see the short film afterwards that showed more of innocent people getting killed. It was troubling in that movie, especially, to see the joy experienced by people that were killing innocent civilians, including kids and babies and defenseless people, essentially. So, you know, it's one thing if, obviously, if civilians die accidentally, but it's another thing to revel in the joy of killing civilians, that's not you know— that's ugly, that's evil."
Netanyahu said that Hamas is "a death cult," and detailed some of the horrific atrocities enacted on October 7, including children being murdered in front of their parents, women tied up, gang raped, then shot, and beheadings.
They also spoke about the mass protests and demonstrations that have been seen across the world opposing Israel's attempts to eradicate Hamas in Gaza. Hamas leaders have said unequivocally that they will continue to massacre Jews and attack Israel as long as their organization survives. The protests in London, New York, and elsewhere have featured rhetoric that is not merely pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel, but pro-Hamas, as well.
"It is troubling," Musk said, "to see massive protests in almost every major city in favor of Hamas, or they generally characterize it as sort of a free Palestine movement. And I think, you know, one can generally agree that we want a good future for Palestinians ... The challenge is, really, how do you get rid of the ones who are hell-bent on murdering Jewish people while minimizing civilian casualties and then ultimately, stopping the sort of propaganda that is convincing people to engage in murder? At the end of the day, that's really essential is to figure out 'okay, how are they being trained to have this huge belief that murdering and having joy at the death of civilians is a good thing, and just stop that training?"
For Netanyahu, the primary focus is to remove the Hamas regime from power. The political wing of Hamas came into power during an election after Israel withdrew from Gaza, and followed a bloody fight between the former Palestinian leaders in the Fatah party. He also pointed out that the pressure for the Palestinian cause globally is really a movement against Israel. This, he said, is evidenced by demonstrations against Israel's retaliation when there were no demonstrations when other nations have committed atrocities against the same group.
"When over a million Arabs and Muslims were killed in Syria, in Yemen, many of them starving to death," Netanyahu said, "those who didn't die, in explosions, in battle. Where were the demonstrations in London, in Paris, in San Francisco, in Washington? Where are they now? The answer is they don't care about the Palestinians. Right? They hate Israel and they hate Israel, because they hate America. And they say so."
The far ranging conversation touched on how Germany was treated after World War I, and how their being cut off from aid and the ability to effectively govern themselves led to an increase in problems for the nation and eventually, within only a few years, for Europe and the western world. Radicalism in Gaza, they agreed, had to be wiped out while leaving room for effective governance. This can be done, they agreed, with aid to the region.
"We have to demilitarize Gaza after the destruction of Hamas," Netanyahu said, "and we have to de-radicalize Gaza, and that will take some time, especially work on the mosques and on the schools. That's where children are, you know, imbibe their values. Yeah. And then we have to also rebuild Gaza, and I hope to have our Arab friends help in that context."
"I'd like to help as well," Musk said. "I think it's it's important to pair firmness in taking out the terrorists, those who wish, who are intent on murder, and then at the same time, to then help those who remain. Which is also what happened in Germany in Japan. You know, it's interesting because this is quite a rare thing in history. Usually the victor pillages the loser, and if you look at it after World War I, you know, the Treaty of Versailles was a big mistake and it created immense bitterness in Germany. And it's part of what led to World War II. And then World War II that people realize, 'listen, we actually need to rebuild the economies instead of punishing them.' And so, you know, you had the rebuilding of Japan. Rebuilding of Germany and much of Europe and then we've had peace and prosperity for a long time."
Netanyahu agreed that this was possible so long as Hamas is removed from power and influence.
Musk, who has been lambasted by a mainstream press that opposes his free speech absolutism on Twitter and had cherry-picked his posts to level charges of anti-semitism, simply posted "actions speak louder than words."
Netanyahu posted about the experience as well.
"The those who are intended motor must be neutralized, then the propaganda must stop, that has training people to be murderers in the future, and then and then making Gaza prosperous, and if that happens, I think will be a good future.," Musk said.
