Gaza City — Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, revealed on Saturday that his satellite communication system, Starlink, will be extending its services to internationally recognized aid organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. This decision comes in the wake of Israel cutting off communication networks in Gaza, resulting in a complete blackout on Friday night.
According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, Starlink aims to "support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza." Musk reiterated his commitment a few hours later, stating that Starlink "will support the UN and other internationally recognized aid groups." The announcement followed a discussion between Musk and various activists and officials who expressed their concerns over the impact of the communication blackout, particularly on the United Nations and healthcare services in the region.
While planning for a broad ground operation in Gaza, the Israeli Ministry of Communications disclosed that it has commenced official negotiations with SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink. The aim of these discussions is to employ Starlink services as a backup to ensure uninterrupted internet access in towns along the front lines in Gaza and other war-affected areas.