Israel, UN discuss deploying Starlink in Gaza to help humanitarian workers distribute aid – report

Israel and the United Nations are in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink over the possibility of deploying the satellite communication system in the Gaza Strip to increase protection for humanitarian workers in the enclave, Axios reports.

The UN has told Israel that the system is necessary if aid distribution is to be implemented across the enclave, Israeli officials tell the outlet.

The international body asked to deploy Starlink at its headquarters in the Strip, Israeli officials reportedly say.

However, officials say that Israel is concerned that the system could fall into the hands of Hamas and make it more difficult for the terror group’s communications to be monitored, the outlet says.

Additionally, it was feared that Hamas could exploit the system and use it to help it carry out attacks without detection.

The report cites four unnamed officials — three Israeli and one from the US.

The report says the matter was discussed during Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s recent trip to Washington.

Using a network of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink can provide internet to remote locations or areas that have had normal communications infrastructure disabled.

AFP contributed to this report.