Israel in Talks with SpaceX for Wartime Starlink Internet Services

  Pexels

Following a deadly cross-border invasion on October 7, Israel has declared war against Hamas in Gaza. In response to the attack, which resulted in the death of over 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, Israel is planning a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip. A significant part of their strategy involves bolstering wartime communications through the use of Starlink internet services, provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The Role of Starlink in Wartime Communications

The Israeli Communications Ministry released a statement indicating that the inclusion of Starlink would ensure uninterrupted internet services for frontline towns. This marks the first time that Israel is counting on Starlink as a backup system should other systems face disruptions.

Potential Disruptions to Gaza’s Communications

The Ministry further confirmed considerations to sever the internet and phone services it provides to Gaza. This move is part of a broader strategy that includes shutting down the Israel offices of Al-Jazeera, a Qatari state-owned news network. The Israeli government accuses the network of propagating Hamas propaganda and inciting harm to national security during wartime.

Casualties of The Conflict

The conflict has led to heavy airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in the death of more than 2,800 Palestinians. The Israeli army has also cut off fuel, water, and electricity supplies into the Hamas-run Strip while deploying hundreds of thousands of troops along the front lines.

As of the time of reporting, SpaceX had not responded to requests for comment regarding the discussed collaboration.