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Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, tech billionaire Elon Musk has offered to provide his Starlink satellite internet service to humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza. The Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, has been experiencing a lack of internet and telephone communication due to escalating airstrikes and a ground campaign by the Israeli military. As a result, civilians are unable to seek help, and aid organizations are unable to communicate effectively.

While it remains unclear how quickly the aid organizations will be able to connect to the technology, Musk has expressed his willingness to grant access to “internationally recognized” organizations. However, it should be noted that special equipment is required to utilize the Starlink service.

Musk’s gesture was prompted by the criticism of Israel’s decision to cut communication from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who expressed her concerns about the disconnection of a population of 2.2 million. Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the risk to journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian efforts, and innocent individuals in the area, questioning the defense of such an act. She also highlighted the historical denouncement of this practice by the United States.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified with the Israeli ground campaign, potentially signaling a long-anticipated invasion of northern Gaza. The escalation came after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue airstrikes until all the hostages are freed, with only four released thus far. However, the retaliatory airstrikes conducted by Israel have resulted in the deaths of over 7,300 Palestinians, including approximately 3,000 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

While the United States has supported Israel in the conflict, it has reportedly cautioned against a full ground invasion due to concerns over broader regional escalation in the Middle East. Elon Musk’s offer to provide Starlink internet service to aid organizations in Gaza is reminiscent of his support for Ukraine in its conflict against Russia. However, in the case of Ukraine, Musk limited the service to defensive operations, raising questions about his influence on U.S. foreign policy in the region.

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