A Silicon Valley VC Says He Got the IDF Starlink Access Within Days of October 7 Attack

image via WIRED

May 19, 2025, 4:37 PM

• •Shaun Maguire, a venture capitalist, facilitated IDF access to Starlink shortly after the October 7th attack, earlier than publicly acknowledged.
• •Maguire and Aviv Eyal discussed the rapid activation of Starlink for the IDF on a webinar, with Eyal estimating the setup took hours.
• •The official approval of Starlink use in Israel came months later, and SpaceX may not have had a Pentagon contract at the time.
• •The IDF's actions caused a complete disruption of internet and communications in Gaza, followed by negotiations for Starlink access.
• •Despite initial reluctance, Starlink eventually gained limited approval for use in Israel and a UAE-run hospital, with broader access planned.

Venture capitalist Shaun Maguire revealed he helped the Israel Defense Forces gain early access to Starlink satellite internet, operated by SpaceX, following the October 7th attack. This occurred much sooner than officially acknowledged by Israel, SpaceX, or Elon Musk. The webinar, hosted by the Israeli Defense Ministry, discussed the rapid deployment facilitated by Maguire. The delay in official approval and the lack of a Pentagon contract highlight the unusual circumstances, occurring amidst the disruption of Gaza's internet and communications infrastructure due to IDF actions. Despite initial resistance, Starlink eventually gained limited approval for use in Israel and a UAE-run hospital, with broader access planned.

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