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Elon Musk’s satellite-broadband unit, Starlink, will be offering connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza, according to the CEO of SpaceX. The announcement comes after communication in Gaza was disrupted due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment.

Starlink, a division of Musk’s SpaceX, is a dominant player in the commercial space launch market. Its user terminals have been instrumental in assisting Ukraine during Russia’s invasion. These terminals have enabled troops to communicate with each other and leaders in Kyiv despite attacks on communication infrastructure.

The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a blackout in Gaza. Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas following the militant group’s attacks on the nation. However, the densely populated Gaza Strip, with its 2.2 million inhabitants, has many innocent civilians, including children, who are affected by the ongoing violence.

In response to a post by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who condemned the communication blackout, Musk stated that Starlink would support connectivity for aid organizations in Gaza. The International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency, also expressed concern over the blackout, calling for life-saving access to communication networks to be restored. Musk deemed the blackout as questionable.

The blackout has raised concerns about the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza. Human Rights Watch expressed worries about potential human rights violations, as the blackout provides cover for mass atrocities. The World Health Organization highlighted the challenges faced by ambulances in reaching the injured due to the communication disruption.

Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Authority’s ambassador to the U.K., also voiced his concerns about the blackout. He described the destruction of Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes and the difficulty in reaching his family who are affected by the blackout.

Musk clarified that no communication attempts have been made by Gaza using Starlink terminals. However, SpaceX is committed to supporting communication links with internationally recognized aid organizations.

The communication blackout in Gaza has severe humanitarian implications, hindering the work of aid organizations and making it difficult to provide assistance to those in need.

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