Elon Musk’s Starlink gets green light in Gaza, Israel for first time

The Israeli government said on Wednesday it has approved the use of Starlink satellite services in a field hospital in the war-battered Gaza Strip, and in Israel for the first time.

“The Israeli security authorities approved the provision of Starlink services at the UAE’s field hospital operating in Rafah,” the Communications Ministry said in a statement.

“Starlink low-latency, high-speed connections will enable video conferencing with other hospitals and real-time remote diagnostics,” it said.

The Communications Ministry also said that Starlink — the satellite network of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and the world’s largest satellite operator — will be enabled in Israel for the first time.

“The use of the company’s services will be limited at first with broader use expected in the future.”

Musk said in a posting on his social media platform X that he greatly appreciated Israel’s move, saying he hoped it would help both Israelis and Palestinian civilians in Gaza.