Israel is poised to grant approval for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service to commence limited operations in their war-torn country, according to a communications ministry official. Initially, sales will be restricted to official institutions, with Starlink agreeing not to provide access to humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip without Israel's defense establishment's consent. The Israeli government aims to utilize Starlink to enhance communication capabilities along their southern and northern borders during wartime while ensuring that the service remains inaccessible in Gaza due to concerns about potential misuse by Hamas.
Elad Malka, the deputy director of the ministry, revealed that the license for Starlink was expedited in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has entered its fourth month. Musk had previously drawn the ire of Israeli officials in November when he mentioned the possibility of offering the satellite service in the Gaza Strip, specifically to humanitarian groups. However, Musk later clarified that he had not received any requests for access from aid organizations in Gaza and stated that he would only activate Starlink there with the approval of the US and Israeli governments.
To facilitate this initiative, Starlink has established a subsidiary in Israel and plans to commence the sale of its terminals in the coming weeks. Under the terms of the license, sales will be limited to a predefined list of approved clients which include communication companies and local councils. This approach seeks to strike a balance between reinforcing Israeli border communication systems and ensuring that the service is not misused in the conflict-stricken Gaza Strip.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an invasion into southern Israel, resulting in the loss of over 1,200 lives and the taking of more than 200 hostages. In response, Israeli forces have conducted extensive air campaigns and ground invasions in Gaza, leading to the reported deaths of over 20,000 Palestinians. However, these casualty figures are contested by Israel.
By providing Starlink internet service in Israel, the government aims to further bolster their communication capabilities during times of conflict. The advent of satellite technology enables reliable and efficient communication, particularly in challenging circumstances. However, with potential security risks and concerns about the service being used by non-state actors, Israel has taken measures to limit access and prevent misuse.