Elon Musk announced that the Starlink satellite internet service has been activated in a hospital in the Gaza Strip with the help of Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Starlink, owned by SpaceX, is a network of satellites that provides internet to remote locations where normal infrastructure is unavailable. The high-speed internet will facilitate life-saving medical consultations via real-time video calling.
This development comes five months after the approval from the Israeli government for Starlink’s use in a hospital in Rafah, Gaza. The UAE expressed gratitude to Musk for supporting their field hospital in the region.
Destruction of Health Facilities
Health facilities in Gaza have faced destruction during the nine months of conflict. Israel initiated the operation in response to violent attacks by Hamas Islamists in southern Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages.
According to Gaza’s health authorities, the military offensive by Israel has claimed over 39,000 Palestinian lives. Approximately 120 people are still held hostage by Hamas in the region.
sri/rm (Reuters)