Needless to say, Israel is not happy about it at all.
Elon Musk announced that SpaceX’s Starlink will provide communication support to Gaza in collaboration with “internationally recognized aid organizations“. This move has drawn a strong reaction from Israel’s communication minister, Shlomo Karhi, who expressed concerns that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza, might use the Starlink connection for terrorist activities. Musk, however, pointed out that no terminal in the Gaza area had requested a connection, and he questioned the authority over ground links in Gaza.
The recent telephone and internet blackout in Gaza, initiated by Israel’s widening air and ground assault, has further isolated the people in the region. This blackout has hampered life-saving operations and communication with humanitarian organizations on the ground. SpaceX has not yet provided details on how it will ensure that Starlink connections are exclusively used by aid organizations. The situation remains contentious, with Israel expressing its intention to combat this development to prevent its potential misuse by Hamas.
