Israeli Denied Tech Conference Entry Over Bombing Fears

An Israeli man, Adam Levi, was denied entry to a technology conference in San Francisco after the organizer cited security concerns related to explosive devices. Mustafa Banandeh, the organizer, explained that attendees carry devices like pagers, smartphones, and laptops, and he did not want the event, referred to by the acronym IGF (an apparent derogatory term for "Israel Genocide Forces"), to cause them to "explode" and injure participants. He stated that "the safety of our community comes first," noting the presence of Lebanese and Palestinian attendees.

Banandeh further elaborated in correspondence with Levi, referencing his service in Unit 8200, an Israeli intelligence unit, and linking it to the 2026 "beeper attack" in Lebanon. He argued that Levi's classified role meant there was no way to know if he was involved. When questioned about whether individuals from the US military or CIA should also raise concerns, Banandeh responded that these organizations do not conduct attacks on their own soil. He also ironically invited Levi to events held in Israel, near the Unit 8200 headquarters.

Levi, who published the exchange online, humorously responded that building explosive beepers was never his specialty. The incident gained significant traction on social media. Meanwhile, TRACE Initiative, a private US organization, has made further claims about Banandeh, alleging he manages Telegram groups sharing information on entering Israel and pro-Palestinian activities under the alias "Stapha." TRACE also claims Banandeh was previously blocked from working with TechAviv. These claims by TRACE have not been independently verified.

Initially, SF Tech Week removed the event from its schedule due to a violation of terms of use. However, the event, organized by PiT-Inference and led by Banandeh, reappeared on the official SF Tech Week schedule for October 6th, with another PiT-Inference event also listed. No public explanation has been provided for the event's reinstatement.