Elon Musk Announces that Starlink Will Provide Connectivity in Gaza for Aid Organizations
Jose Nino
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On October 28, 2023, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX’s Starlink will provide communication links in Gaza with “internationally recognized aid organizations.” Such a move provoked a fierce response from Israel’s communication minister Shlomo Karhi, who vowed to oppose this move.
In a post on X. Musk said that it was unclear who has the power for establishing ground links in Gaza, but did indicate that the company knows that “no terminal has requested a connection in that area.”
On October 28, the Gaza Strip suffered an Internet and telephone blackout that effectively disconnected it from the rest of the world.
Technically, the blackout started on May 27, which threw a wrench in life-saving operations conducted by international humanitarian organizations and impeded contact with staff in Gaza
SpaceX did not reply to Reuters’ request for comment on how it would guantee any Starlink connection was used by humanitarian organizations and not by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
In response to Musk’s post on X, Israel’s communication minister Shlomo Karhi declared Israel “will use all means at its disposal to fight this.”
“HAMAS will use it for terrorist activities,” Karhi stated. “Perhaps Musk would be willing to condition it with the release of our abducted babies, sons, daughters, elderly people. All of them! By then, my office will cut any ties with starlink.”
Musk’s Starlink gained notoriety after Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when its satellites were reported to have played a critical role in maintaining internet connectivity in several areas despite Russian efforts to jam the connections.
Since then, Musk has announced his refusal to extend coverage over Crimea, which is controlled by Russia at the moment.
By refusing to extend coverage, Musk has not allowed Ukrainian forces to use his satellites to launch attacks against Russian forces in Crimea.
Say what you want about Musk, but he’s no war-loving businessman. He genuinely wants to continue doing business with countries and not foment geopolitical instability abroad.
We need more businessmen with this kind of mindset if we want peace and prosperity to become the global standard.
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