Israel recently caused disruption to internet and communications services in Gaza. Following an offer by Elon Musk to provide communication links to the region, Israel expressed concerns about the potential misuse of these links by Hamas militants for "terrorist activities."
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi emphasized these concerns and also suggested that Musk may want to consider linking the initiative to the release of kidnapped individuals. Unfortunately, as a result of this situation, a significant number of people in Gaza, approximately 2.3 million, are currently unable to access communications, exacerbating an already dire situation.
This power outage has had a detrimental impact on emergency services, making it challenging for ambulances to reach those in need of assistance. In response to these circumstances, Elon Musk has announced that Starlink, a satellite internet project of SpaceX, will provide connectivity support to internationally recognized humanitarian groups in Gaza.
Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza.
[ComStar]— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2023
This announcement came after US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Israel's decision to cut off communications in the region, deeming it "unacceptable" and highlighting the risks it poses to various groups, including journalists, medical professionals, and innocent civilians.
It is worth noting that Starlink satellites have previously played a crucial role in maintaining internet connectivity in certain areas despite interference efforts during Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, SpaceX has not yet received any official feedback on how to ensure that the Starlink connection is exclusively utilized by humanitarian organizations rather than Hamas, the governing body in the Gaza Strip.
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