Elon Musk is offering the use of his Starlink satellite internet service to humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza as the war between Israel and Hamas continues to rage on.
The offer from Musk comes as aid continues to flow into the Gaza Strip, offering support to those in the land controlled by Hamas. The area has been without internet and telephone communication amid the airstrikes and ground campaign by the Israeli military.
Musk said his company would give access to “internationally recognized” aid organizations, as civilians in the strip have been unable to call for help, and the organizations have been unable to communicate.
While the offer from Musk was made on Saturday, it is unclear how long it will take before aid groups can connect, as it requires special equipment.
The commitment from Musk came after Rep. Alexandria Ocacio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) criticized Israel’s decision to cut communication in the strip.
“Cutting off all communication to a population of 2.2 million is unacceptable,” Ocacio-Cortez said on X. “Journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian efforts, and innocents are all endangered. I do not know how such an act can be defended. The United States has historically denounced this practice.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue airstrikes until the more than 200 people taken hostage after Hamas’s surprise attack are returned. So far, four have been freed.
The attack from Hamas sparked the war between the two groups, as more than 1,400 people were killed by the terrorist group.
In response to Hamas’s attack, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 7,300 Palestinians as of Friday, according to The Hill.
Musk made a similar offer to Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia, allowing it access to Starlink but limiting its use to purely defensive operations.