Jul 25, 2024 17:00:00

Elon Musk reports that Starlink is up and running in hospitals in the Gaza Strip with support from the UAE and Israel

On July 24, 2024, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that 'with the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israeli governments, the satellite internet service Starlink is now operational at a hospital in

the Gaza Strip .'

In blacked-out Gaza, Elon Musk's Starlink opens tiny internet bubble - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/23/gaza-starlink-elon-musk-hospital/

Musk Says Starlink Service Is 'Now Active' in a Gaza Hospital - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-24/musk-asks-x-followers-if-tesla-should-sink-5-billion-into-xai

Starlink now active in Gaza, says Elon Musk - Israel News - The Jerusalem Post
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-811619

On October 28, 2023, Musk said, 'We plan to provide internet connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in the Gaza Strip.' However, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi expressed firm opposition to the idea, saying that it could be used by Hamas, the militant group that effectively controls the Gaza Strip.

Israel will use all means at its disposal to fight this.

HAMAS will use it for terrorist activities. There is no doubt about it, we know it, and musk knows it. HAMAS is ISIS.

Perhaps Musk would be willing to condition it with the release of our abducted babies, sons, daughters,… https://t.co/pRNOlnINbZ
— Shlomo Karhi (@shlomo_karhi) October 28, 2023

Musk then traveled to Israel, where he reportedly met with senior government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and with cyber and security officials.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and @ElonMusk toured Kibbutz Kfar Aza this morning.

The Prime Minister showed Musk the horrors of the massacre at the kibbutz on Saturday October 7th. https://t.co/prW0e5Cvbc pic.twitter.com/kR74F61qaf
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 27, 2023

In response, Minister of Communications Karhi reported, 'Starlink can now be operated only with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications. This includes the Gaza Strip,' indicating his intention to allow Starlink to operate in the Gaza Strip, subject to Israeli approval.

Starlink operation in Gaza subject to Israeli approval - GIGAZINE

Starlink and the Israeli Ministry of Communications subsequently reached an agreement in February 2024 to allow the use of Starlink in UAE-run field hospitals, while taking a series of measures to prevent access by Hamas.

On July 24, 2024, Musk reported that 'Starlink is currently operating in a hospital in the Gaza Strip with the support of the UAE and Israeli governments.'