Elon Musk announced on Saturday that SpaceX’s Starlink would facilitate communication links for “internationally recognized aid organizations” in Gaza. In a social media post on platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Musk highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the authority for ground links in the area. He emphasized that no terminal in the region had requested a connection yet.
A recent telephone and internet blackout left individuals in the Gaza Strip cut off from the world and each other, making it nearly impossible to reach loved ones, ambulances, or colleagues outside the region, as Israel escalated its air and ground assault.
International humanitarian organizations expressed concerns that the blackout, which began on Friday evening, was exacerbating an already dire situation by hindering life-saving operations and impeding their ability to communicate with their on-ground staff.
At the time of writing, SpaceX had not responded to request for comment on how they plan to ensure that the Starlink connection is exclusively utilized by aid organizations rather than Hamas.
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starlink satellites reportedly played a crucial role in maintaining internet connectivity in certain regions, despite attempts by Russia to jam the signals. Musk later stated that he refused to extend coverage over Russian-occupied Crimea, adamantly declining to allow his satellites to be used in Ukrainian attacks on Russian forces in the region.
