In a bold move, tech magnate Elon Musk offered his resources to bolster communication infrastructure in the war-torn Gaza strip. However, this gesture was met with swift and stern warnings from the Israeli authorities, who vowed to employ all available means to counteract it.
Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s Minister of Communication, expressed apprehensions that Musk’s communication solutions could potentially be exploited by Hamas militants for nefarious “terrorist activities.”
Karhi voiced his concerns, stating, “HAMAS may exploit this technology for nefarious ends. Perhaps Mr. Musk would consider attaching conditions, such as the safe release of our abducted citizens, spanning across different age groups. We would consider severing all ties with Starlink by that time.”
Israel took a drastic step last Friday by disabling internet and communication networks within the besieged enclave. This sudden blackout effectively isolated nearly 2.3 million inhabitants from the world and from each other.
International humanitarian organizations lamented the impact of this blackout, aggravating an already dire situation in Gaza. The loss of communication has dire consequences, affecting vital emergency services such as the primary hotline, 101, and hindering the swift response of ambulances to aid those injured in airstrikes.
In response to the crisis, Elon Musk announced that Starlink, the satellite internet constellation managed by his aerospace conglomerate SpaceX, would facilitate connectivity for globally recognized humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza.
This announcement came after US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Israel’s communication blackout in Gaza. She decried the act as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that it imperiled journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian efforts, and innocent civilians. She further questioned the defense of such a drastic measure, citing historical opposition by the United States.
In response to Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks, Elon Musk affirmed, “Starlink shall provide support for connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza.”
It is noteworthy that following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starlink’s satellite network played a pivotal role in maintaining internet connectivity in some regions, even in the face of attempted Russian interference.
Despite these developments, SpaceX has yet to provide a detailed response to inquiries regarding how they intend to guarantee that Starlink connectivity serves aid organizations and not Hamas, the ruling authority in the Gaza Strip.
