The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) field hospital in southern Gaza will soon benefit from Starlink internet service, facilitated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The UAE’s foreign ministry announced this initiative on Wednesday, aiming to support patients requiring real-time video medical consultations.
Communication disruptions have plagued Gaza, with several blackouts occurring in the past four months, including a prolonged outage in January, the longest since the conflict began. Limited communication access has posed challenges for journalists, aid workers, and the general population, with some resorting to international or electronic SIM cards near the Israeli or Egyptian borders.
The Rafah-based hospital, among the few international field hospitals in Gaza, employs 50 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians. However, communication difficulties have hindered its ability to provide patients with necessary medical assistance through video conferences with other hospitals. The UAE, maintaining positive relations with Israel, operates one of the few field hospitals in Gaza.
According to a spokesperson for the UAE’s foreign ministry, Afra Al Hameli, this initiative underscores the UAE’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Palestinian people during the ongoing conflict.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, utilizes a network of satellites to deliver broadband internet, offering high-speed, low-latency connectivity globally, even in areas lacking conventional internet infrastructure.
In October, Elon Musk faced criticism from Israeli officials after expressing his intention to provide Starlink to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza. Despite initial concerns about potential support for Hamas, Israeli communication minister Shlomo Karhi later announced a “principle understanding” with Musk regarding Starlink’s operation in Israel and Gaza, subject to Israeli government approval.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Israeli communication ministry confirmed the approval of Starlink services at the UAE’s field hospital in Rafah. However, Karhi emphasized that such approvals for units in Gaza would be granted on an individual basis, contingent upon confirmation from Israeli security forces regarding authorized entities with no threat to national security.
Musk’s visit to Israel in November, where he met with the country’s leaders and toured areas affected by conflict, aimed to address concerns sparked by his social media activity. The use of Starlink in international conflict zones highlights Musk’s influence as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Criticism regarding Starlink’s deployment also arose in Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. Despite SpaceX’s assertion of non-engagement with the Russian government or military, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reported confirmed usage of Starlink by Russian forces in occupied areas.
In December, CNN became the first Western media outlet permitted to visit the field hospital in Rafah. Upon their arrival, medical teams swiftly attended to individuals injured by Israeli strikes, underscoring the hospital’s critical role in providing urgent medical care amid conflict. Despite challenges, the hospital’s staff and modern equipment have facilitated over 555 major surgeries and treated more than 4,038 cases in recent months, as reported by the foreign ministry.