Former Israeli PM Claims Israel Smuggled Starlink Systems into Iran

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has claimed that Israel secretly smuggled tens of thousands of Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran during his time in office. According to Bennett, the operation was designed to let some of the Iranian citizens helping US-Israel as spy and agents.

Bennett said the initiative enabled activists and ordinary citizens to bypass restrictions on online communications. He also criticized the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that the effort was not expanded after he left office, limiting its effectiveness during later demonstrations. Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to the claims.

The remarks have renewed attention on the role of Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, in countries facing internet censorship. While Starlink is not officially authorized in Iran, reports over recent years have suggested that thousands of terminals entered the country through unofficial channels, allowing some users to access the internet despite government restrictions.