Musk agrees Starlink Gaza connections to operate only with Israeli approval, says Minister

Starlink satellite units can only be operated in Israel with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, including the Gaza Strip, Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi posted on X on Monday.

Elon Musk, the founder of Starlink and owner of X, arrived for a visit in Israel on Monday amid the Gaza war. Following Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel on October 7 and the outbreak of the war, Musk announced that he is willing to operate his satellite internet system in the Gaza Strip for the benefit of aid organizations. In response to Musk's announcement, Karhi stated that Israel “will use all means at its disposal to fight this.”

Elon Musk.

Musk replied that Starlink "will do a security check with both the US and Israeli governments before turning on even a single terminal. We are not so naive," which seems to have ultimately led to Monday’s announcement.

"Elon Musk, I congratulate you for reaching a principle understanding with the Ministry of Communications under my leadership. As a result of this significant agreement, Starlink satellite units can only be operated in Israel with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, including the Gaza Strip," Karhi wrote on X. "As the State of Israel fights against Hamas - ISIS, this understanding is vital, as is it for everyone who desires a better world, free of evil and free of anti-Semitism, for our children's sake. During your time in Israel, I hope that you will be able to gain valuable insight, and that it will serve as a springboard for future endeavors, as well as enhance your relationship with the Jewish people and values we share with the entire world. I welcome you to Israel."

With the assistance of a vast fleet of thousands of small satellites orbiting the Earth in low orbital course, Starlink can offer high-speed internet access to nearly any location worldwide, eliminating the need for extensive local infrastructure, aside from a relatively small relay station that communicates with an array of satellites. The initial satellites of the system were launched into space in 2019 and have been consistently launched almost every week since.