Elon Musk has announced the activation of Starlink satellite internet service at a hospital in the Gaza Strip, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
The SpaceX CEO’s statement comes as a beacon of support for the UAE field hospital in Gaza, which has seen significant destruction of medical facilities due to over nine months of conflict.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the foreign minister of the Gulf Arab state, expressed gratitude to Musk for his contribution to the hospital.
Musk confirmed on social media that “Starlink is now active in a Gaza hospital with the support of @UAEmediaoffice and @Israel.” Over five months have passed since the Israeli government authorized the use of Starlink in the hospital located in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
According to the UAE foreign ministry, the high-speed internet connection will facilitate critical medical consultations through real-time video communication, a service announced back in February.
The provision of the internet in Gaza has been challenging due to inadequate power and fuel supplies for operating provider centres, complicating the efforts of medical and rescue teams and limiting hospital services and the health ministry’s centralized operations.
In 2020, the UAE, known for its oil production and as a regional financial and tourism centre, normalized relations with Israel, a move followed by Bahrain, Morocco, and later Sudan.
