‘Internationally recognized aid organizations’ to have access to internet through Starlink in Gaza, says Elon Musk

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has offered his Starlink internet services to assist aid organizations in Gaza, where communications and internet connectivity have been shut down since last Friday. Musk announced that Starlink satellite internet will be made available to aid organizations in Gaza after the communications blackout caused the Israeli bombardment in preparation for expanding ground operations. This blackout has severely impacted emergency services, with the emergency 101 telephone number not working and ambulances unable to be called. Journalists and aid workers in Gaza have also been unable to communicate, leaving them out of contact. In response to the situation, Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the loss of telecommunications and internet access in Gaza “unacceptable.” Elon Musk, in reply to her comment, stated that Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza. However, there has been no confirmation yet of Starlink formally offering its services beyond Musk’s tweet. It is also unclear if there are any Starlink terminals in the Gaza strip, which are necessary for the satellite internet connection to work. Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, revealed that talks were being held with SpaceX about using Starlink services in areas bordering the conflict zones. It’s worth noting that Elon Musk’s role in providing Starlink connectivity in conflict areas, such as Ukraine, has previously attracted controversy. SpaceX has not yet responded to a request for comment on the matter.