Palestinian envoy to UK commends Elon Musk's responsiveness to Gaza communication appeal

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, has called on tech billionaire Elon Musk to assist in providing essential communication support to the beleaguered residents of Gaza.

Zomlot emphasized the critical role of communication during times of crisis, citing the harrowing experiences of his family and countless others during recent events in the region.

He expressed his gratitude to Musk for his responsiveness, recounting a personal incident where his family was in dire need of communication.

"Thank you Elon. I was able to reach my sister and other members of my family at 2.03 a.m. this morning. They told me being without communications was as traumatic as anything they have witnessed in this horrific situation," he said on X.

Zomlot appealed to Musk to coordinate with the United Nations and support internationally recognized aid organizations on the ground in Gaza.

"With your assistance, they can get the right support to internationally recognized aid organizations on the ground in Gaza," he said.

"These are defining days for the whole world, and you can be remembered as connecting people in distress equally, wherever they are, be it in Ukraine, Palestine, or anywhere else in this wounded world," he added.

He also said the evacuation of Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza would be "a death sentence for the 400 patients in intensive care and the thousands of civilians who took refuge in it."

Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian group Hamas carried out a cross-border attack.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 8,005, including 3,342 children, 2,062 women, and 460 elderly people, according to the Health Ministry.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari on announced Saturday that Israeli forces were expanding their operations and moving to the "next phase of our war against Hamas," which includes ground operations.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents are meanwhile grappling with shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave.