In times of conflict, the internet becomes more than just a tool\u2014it is a lifeline, connecting those caught in chaos with the outside world. It carries voices that might otherwise be silenced, bearing witness to suffering and survival. Without internet access, communities become isolated, and the flow of critical information is disrupted, making an already dire situation even worse.<\/p>\n
At this years RightsCon conference hosted in Taiwan, Palestinian non-profit organization 7amleh, in collaboration with the Palestinian Digital Rights Coalition and supported by dozens of international organizations including EFF, launched #ReconnectGaza<\/a>, a global campaign to rebuild Gaza\u2019s telecommunications network and safeguard the right to communication as a fundamental human right.\u00a0<\/p>\n The campaign comes on the back of more than 17 months of internet blackouts<\/a> and destruction to Gaza\u2019s telecommunications infrastructure<\/a> by\u00a0 the Israeli authorities.Estimates indicate that 75% of Gaza\u2019s telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged, with 50% completely destroyed<\/a>. This loss of connectivity has crippled essential services\u2014 preventing healthcare coordination, disrupting education, and isolating Palestinians from the digital economy. In response, there is an urgent and immediate need\u00a0 to deploy emergency solutions, such as eSIM cards, satellite internet access, and mobile communications hubs.<\/p>\n At the same time, there is an opportunity to rebuild towards a just and permanent solution with modern technologies that would enable reliable, high-speed connectivity that supports education, healthcare, and economic growth. The campaign calls for this as a paramount component to reconnecting Gaza, whilst also ensuring the safety and protection of telecommunications workers on the ground, who risk their lives to repair and maintain critical infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n Further, beyond responding to these immediate needs, 7amleh and the #ReconnectGaza campaign demands the establishment of an independent Palestinian ICT sector, free from external control, as a cornerstone of Gaza\u2019s reconstruction and Palestine’s digital sovereignty. Palestinians have been subject to Israel internet controls since the Oslo Accords<\/a>, which settled that Palestine should have its own telephone, radio, and TV networks, but handed over details to a joint technical committee. Ending the deliberate isolation of the Palestinian people is critical to protecting fundamental human rights.<\/p>\n This is not the first time<\/a> internet shutdowns have been weaponized as a tool for oppression. In 2012, Palestinians in Gaza were subject to frequent power outages<\/a> and were forced to rely on generators and insecure dial-up connections for connectivity. More recently since October 7, Palestinians in Gaza have experienced repeated internet blackouts inflicted by the Israeli authorities. Given that all of the internet cables connecting Gaza to the outside world go through Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Communications has the ability to cut off Palestinians\u2019 access with ease. The Ministry also allocates spectrum to cell phone companies; in 2015 we wrote about an agreement<\/a> that delivered 3G to Palestinians years later than the rest of the world.<\/p>\n