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Elon Musk, the controversial billionaire and owner of several global technology companies, has announced that he will allow certain humanitarian organizations to use the Starlink system in response to the communication blackout in the Gaza Strip. Musk made this announcement on his social media platform in response to a call from American Democratic Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who deemed the disconnection of communication for 2.2 million people in Gaza unacceptable.

The Israeli government recently disrupted all communication in the Gaza Strip and simultaneously initiated the strongest bombardment since the beginning of the conflict. Reports from the region, mostly communicated through satellite phones, describe the situation as chaotic and devastating. Due to the lack of communication, it has been difficult to call for help for the injured.

The specifics of how and when Starlink, which operates through low-orbit satellites and ground stations, will be available in the Gaza Strip are still unclear. Expert Mark Owen Jones from the University of Qatar doubts the feasibility of implementing Starlink in Gaza. He questions the availability of the necessary infrastructure and fuel to power the system.

This is not the first time Elon Musk has involved himself in an ongoing war conflict. During the war in Ukraine, Musk provided Starlink service to support Ukrainians defending against Russian aggression, which experts viewed as a significant aid to the Ukrainian army. However, Musk also deactivated the Starlink satellites when Ukrainian ships attacked Sevastopol, where the Russians have their base. He justified this decision by expressing concerns about escalating the war and the potential nuclear retaliation from Russia.

It remains to be seen how Starlink will be implemented in Gaza and who exactly will have access to it. Musk’s decision to provide connectivity through Starlink to humanitarian organizations could potentially help alleviate communication challenges and facilitate emergency response efforts in the troubled region.

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