Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has offered its Starlink internet services to aid organizations in Gaza, which has been experiencing a shutdown of communications and internet connectivity since Friday. Musk made the announcement after Israel bombarded the territory and cut off internet and cellular services following Hamas attacks on October 7.
The lack of communication has had serious consequences, as the emergency 101 telephone number was not working, preventing ambulances from being called. Additionally, journalists and aid workers in Gaza have been unable to contact anyone, creating a dire situation.
In response to the crisis, Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the loss of telecommunications and internet access, calling it “unacceptable.” Musk then stated that Starlink will provide connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza.
While Musk’s tweet suggests that Starlink will offer its services, there has been no official confirmation beyond his statement. It is also unclear whether there are any Starlink terminals in the Gaza strip that would enable the satellite internet connection to work.
Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, has revealed that talks are underway between SpaceX and Israel regarding the use of Starlink services, particularly in areas bordering the conflict zones.
It is worth noting that Starlink’s involvement in providing connectivity has previously attracted controversy. In the Ukraine war, Musk was accused of shutting off the Starlink network in Crimea during a Ukrainian attack on a Russian naval fleet. This incident highlights the control that Musk possesses over the network.
At the time of reporting, SpaceX had not responded to a request for comment from Insider.
Overall, the offer of Starlink internet services to aid organizations in Gaza presents a potential solution to the communication crisis in the region. However, the implementation and availability of these services remain uncertain.
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