In a remarkable and heartwarming gesture, Elon Musk has activated Starlink satellite internet service at a hospital in Gaza, with critical assistance from Israel and the UAE. This move comes as a beacon of hope amid ongoing turmoil.
Musk shared the news on X, posting, “Starlink is now active in a Gaza hospital with the support of @UAEmediaoffice and @Israel.”
This development comes more than five months after the Israeli government approved the use of Starlink at the hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza. Starlink, a project by Musk’s SpaceX, employs a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to provide internet access to remote and disrupted areas.
The UAE emphasized the positive impact of this initiative, noting that high-speed internet will enable potentially life-saving medical consultations via real-time video calls. The UAE’s foreign minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to Musk for his support of the field hospital in Gaza.
The region has been severely affected by conflict, leading to the destruction of many health facilities. The violence escalated after Hamas carried out attacks in southern Israel on October 7, prompting a military response from Israel. Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the EU, US, Germany, and several other countries, killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages, with around 120 still being held.
In these challenging times, Musk’s activation of Starlink brings not just internet, but a crucial connection and a glimmer of hope to those in need.