Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed addresses a meeting. File

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, extended his gratitude to US billionaire Elon Musk for his support of the UAE field hospital in Gaza through the provision of SpaceX's Starlink internet service on Wednesday.

Sheikh Abdullah via X platform, said, “Thanks Elon Musk for supporting the UAE field hospital in Gaza.”

The tweet was a comment on a tweet by Elon Musk in which he said, “Starlink is now active in a Gaza hospital with the support of UAE media office and Israel.”

In response to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's expression of gratitude, American businessman Elon Musk replied in Arabic, "You are welcome."

In March, the “Gallant Knight 3” operation initiated the provision of Starlink satellite internet services at the UAE Field Hospital. This was done with the dual objective of facilitating real-time video conferencing for the delivery of life-saving medical consultations and of ensuring the highest standard of medical care in the Gaza Strip.

The high-speed internet will enable potentially life-saving medical consultations via real-time video calling, the UAE foreign ministry said in February.

Internet connectivity in Gaza is poor because of the lack of power and fuel to operate provider centres. This makes it harder for medical staff and rescue teams to work, and restricts hospital services and the health ministry's centralised system.