Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide internet services to Gaza

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On Friday, a campaign advocating for billionaire businessman Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide internet to the blasted enclave began trending on social media sites as Gaza faced a nearly complete communications blackout.

A “constellation of thousands of satellites” that orbit very close to Earth, at about 550 km (340 miles) from the surface, make up SpaceX’s satellite internet venture. This makes it easier to provide internet services in remote and rural areas of the world where internet terminals and cables are weak.

In his original response to a post urging Starlink to assist Gaza, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that “no terminals from Gaza have attempted to communicate with our constellation” and that it was unclear who was in charge of the ground communications in the beleaguered area.

Musk declared that “Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza” as a response to the growing demand for him to facilitate communication in Gaza through Starlink.

Will Elon Musk’s Starlink work in Gaza?

Even though Starlink’s branding promises “connectivity where you least expect it,” Marc Owen Jones, a Middle East Studies associate professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha, is dubious of the technology’s viability in Gaza.

elon musk's starlink
The satellite of SpaceX

“It would be challenging to smuggle in and widely distribute Starlink terminals or dishes in Gaza,” said Owen Jones. He also said that the Israeli government is unlikely to permit the legal importation of it.

However, suppose Starlink gained access. In what way will it power it? Fuel is currently unavailable in Gaza. Following the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th, IDF cut off fuel, water and electricity to Gaza and declared an open siege.

Since 2007, Israel has maintained a blockade of the Gaza Strip. Two of Gaza’s three border crossing sites are used by Israel for the entry and exit of goods and services, and Israel also controls Gaza’s territorial waterways and airspace. Egypt is in charge of the third crossing.

Additionally, Owen Jones pointed out that the Starlink network depends on ground stations, which would require authorization within Gaza, which he claims is improbable given the current circumstances.

He stated that “owning a Starlink terminal with two-way transmission could endanger Gazans if detected by Israeli authorities” and that the US and Israeli governments would probably object to the internet provision.

Shlomo Karhi, the Israeli minister of communications, attacked Musk on social media on Saturday for allegedly considering giving Starlink to Gaza-based humanitarian organizations. Israel will sever all connections with Starlink, according to Karhi.

sholmo karhi and elon's tweet
Elon Musk and Shlomo Karhi’s Tweets

“It will be used by HAMAS for terrorist actions. Without a doubt, Musk and we both know it, according to Karhi.

In response, Musk stated that his business is “not so naive” and that “before turning on even a single terminal, we will conduct a security check with both the US and Israeli governments.”

Starlink provided internet during the Ukraine-Russia war

Musk has previously been requested to offer Starlink internet access in conflicting areas.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Musk promised right away that Starlink terminals would be made accessible to assist the local population and the armed forces in the country once the conflict disrupted internet connectivity.

However, worries about Starlink supporting Russia’s military have surfaced a year into the fight. Leaders in Ukraine chastised Musk in September for declining to provide Starlink services in the Crimea, which Russia had occupied.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an assistant to the Ukrainian president, asserted on the social networking site X that Starlink permitted Russian drones to strike Ukrainian cities.

A mistake can occasionally be much more than just that—a mistake. Elon Musk permitted the Russian military to launch Kalibr missiles against Ukrainian cities by preventing Ukrainian drones from using Starlink interference to destroy a portion of their fleet, Podolyak stated on X.

In response, Musk said he was forced to turn down a desperate plea from Ukraine “to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has commended Musk for his decision.

Starlink is still in use throughout Ukraine, notwithstanding concerns regarding its use in Crimea.

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