Starlink satellites approved for use in Gaza field hospital
Starlink is set to facilitate internet connectivity at an Emirati-operated field hospital in Rafah.
On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation Communications Minister announced that the Israeli government has approved the utilization of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet services in "Israel" and certain areas of the Gaza Strip.
As per the agreement, Starlink will facilitate internet connectivity at an Emirati-operated field hospital in Rafah, located in the far southern region of Gaza. Any future expansion of services within the besieged territory will be contingent upon "Israeli approval".
Starlink's network of low Earth orbit satellites can provide internet to remote locations, or areas that have had normal communications infrastructure disabled.
"Starlink low latency high-speed connections will enable video conferencing with other hospitals and real-time remote diagnostics," Israeli occupation Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi said in a statement on Wednesday.
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UAE Foreign Ministry spokesperson Afra Al Hameli stated on social media that access to reliable, high-speed internet will "enable potentially life-saving medical consultations via real-time video calling," expressing gratitude for the deal.
On a related note, Palestinian media outlets reported on Tuesday a total power outage at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
Earlier in November last year, Karhi stated that he has reached a preliminary agreement with US billionaire Elon Musk to deploy Starlink satellite communication services in the Gaza Strip, but is restricted to Israeli approval.
In late October, Musk announced that his company SpaceX, the operator of Starlink, would provide support for communications with internationally recognized aid groups in Gaza during a telephone and internet blackout in the enclave.