Israel had announced that it will cut all ties with Starlink, the satellite internet service provider owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The decision comes after months of negotiations between the two parties over the terms and conditions of Starlink’s operations in Israel.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli Ministry of Communications, Starlink has failed to comply with the regulatory requirements and security standards set by the Israeli government. The statement also accused Starlink of engaging in unfair and predatory pricing practices, as well as violating the privacy and data protection rights of its Israeli customers.
Starlink, which launched its beta service in Israel in June 2023, has been offering high-speed internet access to rural and remote areas that are not covered by traditional broadband providers. The service relies on a constellation of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites that beam down internet signals to small ground terminals.
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Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, has announced that his company’s Starlink satellite internet service will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza. This is a significant move that could improve the humanitarian situation in the region, where access to reliable and affordable internet is scarce.
Starlink is a constellation of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites that provide high-speed, low-latency internet to users around the world. Starlink aims to cover the entire globe with broadband internet by 2027 and has already launched over 1,800 satellites as of October 2023.
In a tweet on Monday, Musk said that Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). He added that Starlink will also offer discounted rates to individual users in Gaza who sign up for the service.
Musk’s announcement comes amid ongoing tensions and violence between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of casualties, widespread destruction, and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where nearly two million people live under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.
Internet access is vital for humanitarian aid, as it enables communication, coordination, information sharing, and remote assistance. However, internet access in Gaza is limited by several factors, such as poor infrastructure, high costs, frequent power outages, and censorship. According to a 2020 report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, only 58% of households in Gaza have internet access, compared to 77% in the West Bank.
Starlink could potentially improve the internet situation in Gaza by providing a fast, reliable, and affordable alternative to the existing providers. Starlink claims to offer speeds of up to 150 Mbps and latency of around 20 milliseconds, which is comparable to fiber-optic networks. Starlink also operates independently of terrestrial infrastructure, which makes it resilient to disruptions caused by natural disasters or conflict.
However, Starlink also faces some challenges and uncertainties in its mission to connect Gaza. For one thing, Starlink requires a clear view of the sky to work properly, which could be affected by weather conditions or physical obstructions. Moreover, Starlink needs regulatory approval from both Israel and Palestine to operate in their airspace and territories, which could be complicated by political and security issues. Additionally, Starlink may face competition from other satellite internet providers, such as OneWeb and Amazon’s Kuiper, which have similar ambitions to connect the world.
Starlink’s announcement is a welcome development for the people of Gaza, who have suffered from years of isolation and deprivation. By supporting connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations, Starlink could help improve the delivery and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in the region. By offering discounted rates to individual users, Starlink could also empower the people of Gaza with access to information, education, health care, and economic opportunities. Starlink’s initiative is an example of how technology can be used for social good, and how private companies can contribute to global peace and development.
However, Starlink’s operations in Israel have faced several challenges and controversies. In August 2023, Starlink was fined by the Israeli Antitrust Authority for abusing its dominant position and charging excessive fees to its customers. In September 2023, Starlink was sued by several Israeli civil rights groups for allegedly collecting and sharing personal and sensitive data of its users with third parties without their consent. In October 2023, Starlink was accused by the Israeli Defense Forces of interfering with its military communications and compromising its national security.
Starlink has denied all the allegations and claims that it has been operating in good faith and in accordance with the law. Starlink has also expressed its disappointment and regret over Israel’s decision to terminate its contract and cut off its service. Starlink has stated that it will seek legal recourse and compensation for the damages caused by Israel’s actions.
The impact of Israel’s decision on Starlink’s business and reputation is yet to be seen. Starlink currently has over 10 million customers worldwide and plans to expand its service to more countries and regions in the near future. However, Starlink may also face similar regulatory and security issues in other markets, especially in the Middle East, where it competes with local and regional satellite providers.
Musk made the offer after US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Israel for disrupting communication and the internet in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. She said that cutting off all communication to a population of 2.2 million was unacceptable and endangered journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian efforts and innocents. She also questioned how such an act could be defended by the United States, which has historically denounced this practice.
Musk responded to her tweet by saying that Starlink would support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza. He added that no Starlink terminal had attempted to connect from Gaza and that if one did, they would take extraordinary measures to confirm that it was used only for purely humanitarian reasons. He also said that they would do a security check with both the US and Israeli governments before turning on even a single terminal.
However, Israel’s Minister of Communication, Shlomo Karhi, expressed his concern and opposition to Musk’s plan. He said that Israel would use all means at its disposal to fight this, as Hamas, a designated terrorist group, could use it for terrorist activities. He suggested that Musk should condition his aid with the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas. He also said that his office would cut any ties with Starlink if Musk did not change his decision.
The implications of Israel cutting ties with Starlink are significant and complex. On one hand, Starlink’s offer could potentially improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza by restoring internet access and communication lines that are vital for emergency response and coordination. It could also facilitate dialogue and information exchange between different parties and stakeholders in the region, which could contribute to peace and stability.
On the other hand, Starlink’s offer could also pose security risks and challenges for Israel, as Hamas could exploit the technology for nefarious purposes, such as launching cyberattacks, spreading propaganda or coordinating attacks. It could also undermine Israel’s sovereignty and legitimacy in the region, as it could be seen as an interference or intervention by a foreign actor. Moreover, it could strain the relations between Israel and the US, which are already tense over their divergent views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.