On December 26, Gaza Strip It was dark again. Incessant bombardment by Israeli aviation cut off access to Israel’s services. telephone And InternetIt cuts off nearly two million residents from the outside world. This was the eighth major power outage since October 27. Israel advertising He said his armed forces were “expanding their ground operation”. This method has become a weapon war rather trying to silence what was happening in the besieged area.
But Gazans found a way not to be alone. About this subject my partnera small virtual card integrated mobile phones This increases network access. Egyptian writer and activist with the intensifying military offensive of the Hebrew State Mirna El Helbawi He anticipated this connectivity issue and started a global fundraiser at the suggestion of one of his followers on X. Palestinians communication. According to the NGO, Connecting HumanityWe helped 50,000 to 200,000 people.
“The connection is not stable but it is sleeping,” said Samar Labad, a town resident. Welfare, to the AFP agency. “We can at least keep in touch, even if only occasionally, to reassure each other.” telecommunication It is very important for Gazans to know what is happening around them and not to lose contact with their loved ones.
useful technology
eSIMs are software versions of traditional cards SHIMMER. Instead of being stuck with a mobile dock, the user can simply scan a QR code to activate the plan that connects them to a mobile dock. Wireless. However, in order to do this, they must first have access to the internet, which can cause difficulties at first. According to this GuardianIsrael has been “suppressing” the use of these cards for “almost a decade”.
The campaign, supported by Cairo’s El Helbawi, requires the cooperation of donors. They buy eSIMs from suppliers in their country and send the QR code to the 31-year-old young activist, who activates the card and shares his code with Gazans. The results led other residents in the area to contact the 11 activists who created them. Connecting Humanityduplicating a process that serves to spread the campaign.
This technologypresented in society World Mobile Congress This allows them to connect to remote networks (largely Israeli or Egyptian) in ‘roaming’ mode and avoid the blockade affecting the main Palestinian operators. telephone. The price of each eSIM can range from $15 to $100 and has limited validity.
Another way to guarantee connectivity in Gaza would be through satellite internet offered by Starlink, a startup. Elon Musk. At the end of October, the tech mogul assured that he would deploy his services to the region to assist “internationally recognized aid organisations”. His statement angered the Israeli government Benjamin NetanyahuThis put pressure on Musk. At the end of November, both sides announced an agreement to activate the satellites only with Jerusalem’s approval. This convinced Al Helbawi of the necessity of his campaign.
Communicative drowning
On October 11, Israel ordered the supply to be cut off. electric, we also send food and fuel to the Gaza Strip. Since then, connectivity in the region has remained below 30% of pre-conflict levels, according to data from IODA, Cloudflare and Netblocks. This isolation can be produced through air strikes on operators’ vital infrastructure such as telecommunications towers, line closures, or fuel shortages; Three ways Israel is suffocating the people of Gaza.
Human Rights Watch warned that the cuts could “cover up atrocities and create impunity” but could also “undermine humanitarian efforts and put lives at risk.” Just hours before Tuesday’s power outage, Israeli bombs killed at least 80 people in the camp. refugees By Al Maghazi.
These virtual cards have become an indispensable working tool of emergency services and humane aid. Doctors and NGOs use them to detect bombings and treat their victims. To the workers UNRWAagency UN Working with Palestinian refugees, he helps them organize aid caravans.
Access to eSIMs also aims to prevent the silencing of Palestinian suffering; that’s why reporters use them daily to report on the devastating humanitarian impacts of Israeli bombings. “Without them, we would be isolated from the world,” local journalist Hani al Shaer told AFP. “And no one will know what’s going on in Gaza.”