“Elon Musk Promises Starlink Internet Access in Gaza to Aid Organizations Despite Israel Opposition”

Elon Musk’s SpaceX venture, Starlink, is set to facilitate crucial communication links in Gaza for globally recognized aid organizations. This move has stirred tensions, prompting Israel’s communication minister to vow opposition.Musk took to the social media platform X to express uncertainty about the authority overseeing ground links in Gaza, emphasizing that “no terminal has requested a connection in that area.” On Saturday, a telephone and internet blackout left the people of Gaza isolated from the world, rendering communication with loved ones, ambulances, or colleagues virtually impossible. This predicament escalated as Israel expanded its air and ground offensive.International humanitarian groups lamented the blackout’s exacerbation of an already dire situation, obstructing life-saving operations and impeding contact with their on-ground personnel. SpaceX is yet to provide details on how it will ensure that any Starlink connection is solely utilized by aid organizations, not by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip.In response to Musk’s X post, Israel’s communication minister, Shlomo Karhi, asserted that Israel would exhaust all available means to oppose this move. Karhi expressed concerns that HAMAS could exploit the technology for terrorist activities. He suggested that Musk might consider conditioning its use on the release of abducted individuals.Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starlink satellites played a critical role in sustaining internet connectivity in some regions, despite attempted Russian interference. Musk subsequently declined to extend coverage over Russian-occupied Crimea, refusing to permit his satellites to be employed in Ukrainian attacks on Russian forces in the area.