Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk hopes “to do more to help people in Gaza,” he tweeted on his social media platform X on Saturday.
Musk made his comment in reference to his Starlink satellite internet service, which started operating in the Gaza Strip three weeks ago.
He attached a post from Emirati influencer Hassan Sajwani, who tweeted thanks to Musk for helping the UAE’s Gaza Field Hospital in Rafah.
Hoping to do more to help people in Gaza https://t.co/YFwv0ZvYDS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 10, 2024
The field hospital was set up in December. Its director, Dr. Sultan Al Kaabi, told the Emirati English-language daily The National that the Starlink service has allowed for live video medical consultations with patients.
“We added the service to cooperate with Emirati hospitals and specialists from different countries,” he said. “We get consultations about certain cases that we don’t have speciality [for] here in Gaza to provide the best treatment.”
Israel’s Communications Ministry approved Starlink’s use in Israel in February, enabling Israelis to access broadband services even in the event of disruption to ground-based communications.
“Starlink’s entry into Israel will enable advanced satellite communication routinely and during times of emergency,” said Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.
Israel’s security authorities also approved the use of Starlink in the Gaza Strip on a limited, case-by-case basis, in instances where it has been confirmed that the entity in question poses “no concern of risk or possibility of endangering national security,” the ministry added in a statement.
