More companies pull out of this year's Web Summit amid backlash over cofounder's Israel comments

• Companies including Stripe, Intel and Siemens have pulled out of this year's Web Summit in Lisbon.
• Siemens told Insider that it's not attending due to "recent developments surrounding Web Summit."

More companies including Amazon Web Services and Stripe have pulled out of this year's Web Summit after its CEO and cofounder, Paddy Cosgrave, criticized the West's support for Israel.

The withdrawals follow moves by Intel and Siemens earlier this week to not attend the European tech conference due to take place in Lisbon in November.

AWS confirmed to the Business Post on Friday that it would not be attending, while a representative for Stripe told Insider that it was withdrawing as well.

Cosgrave wrote on X on October 13, seemingly commenting on Israel's response to Hamas' terrorist attacks on October 7: "I'm shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland's government, who for once are doing the right thing."

"War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are," he added.

Cosgrave seemed to walk back his comments on Tuesday afternoon, saying that they had "caused profound hurt to many" in a 600-word apology — which came just hours after he posted that he "will not relent."

"Following recent developments surrounding Web Summit, we have reviewed the situation and determined that Siemens will not to attend in 2023," the German company told Insider in a statement Thursday.

The Business Post reported that Meta and Google had also pulled out of the Web Summit, calling into question whether the event would go ahead.

The withdrawal of two Intel and Siemens, of the conference's biggest sponsors, came after several high-profile tech leaders canceled their speaking engagements over Cosgrave's remarks.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan and Sequoia Capital investor Ravi Gupta were among the first group of people that canceled their appearances at the event on Monday.

Speakers have continued to back out of the event this week. Moshiel Biton, CEO and cofounder of rechargeable battery firm Addionics, told Insider that Cosgrave's apology was "barely one" and the company stood by its withdrawal.

Gil Dibner, general partner at Angular Ventures, said the apology "changes nothing" about his decision to cancel his appearance. He added that it was "one of the least sincere apologies I've had the misfortune of reading."

The number of Israel-based speakers went from at least five to zero, according to Insider analysis.

"We are looking forward to welcoming 70,000 attendees from around the world with a full programme this November," a Web Summit representative told Insider, without comment on the sponsors' decisions to withdraw.