As major U.S. corporations entered the corporate earnings season, the Israel-Hamas conflict took center stage, prompting executives to address the situation and launch fundraising initiatives.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon expressed deep sadness over the recent attacks on Israel, denouncing terrorism and hatred.
He cautioned that the ongoing Ukraine crisis, combined with the Israel conflict, could have widespread implications for energy and food markets, global trade, and geopolitical relations.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla emphasized the need for action in addition to condemning terrorism.
In response to the crisis, fundraising efforts quickly mobilized, with contributions from billionaires and the Jewish communities in the U.S. and Canada, including military gear, clothing, food, and household supplies.
UBS committed to matching $5 million in donations from employees and clients while expanding its network of partners to aid displaced families.
Jefferies raised $13 million for humanitarian charities, including a substantial contribution from former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Goldman Sachs pledged $2 million in aid and promised to match employee donations, while Delta Air Lines, temporarily suspending flights to and from Israel, pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser acknowledged the bank’s significant presence in Israel, expressing admiration for the commitment of their employees despite the challenges.
Fraser also highlighted the devastating toll on innocent civilians in the crisis.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink condemned violence and civilian casualties.
However, many firms refrained from specifying the conflict’s perpetrators or victims due to the sensitive nature of the issue, with concerns about social media disinformation.
Leaders of major tech companies also issued strong statements.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Antonio Neri labeled Hamas’s attack on Israeli civilians as unjustified and inexcusable, while Amazon CEO Andy Jassy found the attacks shocking and painful.
Amazon assured customers of a contingency plan to maintain its AWS cloud service in Israel.
Meta announced steps to counter disinformation and remove support for Hamas after criticism from the European Union.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai called for standing against antisemitism and condemned the situation, with Google having a significant presence in Israel.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed his heartbreak over the terrorist attacks, given Microsoft’s substantial workforce in the region.
While some major companies like Apple and Walmart had yet to issue statements, prominent individuals like NBA star LeBron James and supermodel Gigi Hadid, who has Palestinian heritage, weighed in on the conflict, emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence and denouncing harm against any community.