Elon Musk responds to calls to provide ‘Starlink for Gaza’ | indy100

Related video: Elon Musk's X removes thousands of Israel-Hamas misinformation accounts and posts

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Users on Elon Musk’s X (formerly known as Twitter) are calling on the billionaire to establish high-speed internet in Gaza through his Starlink satellites, after Israel announced a “total siege” on the enclave which has hit the Strip’s supplies of fuel, water, food and electricity.

Gaza’s only power plant ran out of fuel earlier this month, and the United Nations has said a third of hospitals have closed, after Israel launched airstrikes on the region in retaliation against an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier this month.

Calls for Musk to intervene come as the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly supported a resolution calling for an immediate truce in Gaza and to allow aid access to the area. Delegates from Israel and the United States voted against the proposal, while the United Kingdom abstained.

On Saturday, around 100,000 protestors are expected to march on London demanding a humanitarian ceasefire, as Israel continues its bombardment of the enclave.

The World Health Organisation has also issued the same plea, as it says it is unable to distribute fuel and medical supplies to Gaza due to “a lack of security guarantees”.

Musk previously provided Starlink internet to Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion of the country, and now social media users are hoping the businessman will do the same for Gaza:

Elon Musk, the country needs you. \n\n#Starlinkforgaza \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8
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\ud83d\udea8\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 As the MOST VIRAL account on Elon Musk\u2019s X this month I FULLY ENDORSE #StarLinkForGaza
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#starlinkforgaza is a nice idea but even if Musk supported it (which he wouldnt/couldnt), you'd need to get terminals into Gaza which the Israelis wouldn't allow. With no fuel and even with solar power it would limit the effectiveness (although of course better than nothing)
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Dear Elon Musk, \n\nGaza has no electricity, water, food, medicine, fuel, \nand as of today, no internet. \n\nIt is time to be on the right side of history.\n\nGazan children need your help to make their voices heard around the world. \nPlease send Starlink to Gaza. \n#starlinkforgaza\u2026
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\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 Elon Musk @elonmusk is Gaza\u2019s only hope right now.\n\nI support #StarLinkForGaza!
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The Tesla founder – who bought Twitter exactly a year ago - has since responded to the calls, replying “correct” to an account which said Gaza “[needs] the hardware” to access Starlink.

He also wrote: “No terminals from Gaza have attempted to communicate with our constellation. SpaceX will support communication links with internationally recognised aid organisations.”

Musk has already been caught up in the Israel-Hamas war over his management of X, as the EU warned him that his platform was spreading “illegal content and information” about the conflict.

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