Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has pledged to aid humanitarian efforts in Gaza through his internet service company, Starlink. This comes in response to criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who condemned Israel's decision to cut off all communications in Gaza during the ongoing conflict. Ocasio-Cortez argued that this action endangered journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian efforts, and innocent civilians. Musk, who was not mentioned in Ocasio-Cortez's post, assured her on social media platform X that Starlink would support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza.
This is not the first time that Starlink has been deployed in conflict zones or areas affected by natural disasters. Musk has previously made the satellite communications system available to provide internet access and connectivity in such situations. Starlink is a constellation of small, mass-produced satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with transceivers on the ground.
In the past, Starlink was deployed in Ukraine following Russia's invasion to help maintain communications while Russia degraded and destroyed infrastructure supporting internet and communications networks. It has been used by both the Ukrainian government and civilians for humanitarian and military purposes.
Musk's pledge to aid humanitarian efforts in Gaza through Starlink demonstrates his company's commitment to providing connectivity in areas impacted by conflict and natural disasters. While the situation in Gaza remains complex and controversial, Musk's offer could potentially help alleviate some of the communication challenges faced by aid organizations and individuals in the region.