In a short span, Salah Hamouri’s life took a dramatic turn. The Palestinian-French activist, who has long operated from France while keeping ties to Jerusalem, recalls how the Israeli government labeled six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations, including Addameer, which supported thousands of prisoners. Hamouri, who had already spent time imprisoned before, found his own status shifting. His residency permit was canceled, and within months he found himself detained administratively and eventually compelled to depart to France last December with no clear path to return to his homeland. The upheaval was not merely personal; it rippled through the professional network he relied on as a defense lawyer for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamouri describes how much of his work hinged on the phone, noting that he and five other defenders faced constant risk as mobile devices carried sensitive information. He spoke of a situation where trustworthy statements, client correspondence, and families’ safety could be compromised by surveillance. Today, his story, carried forward by many in his community, highlights a broader reality: the use of digital tools to monitor and restrict the movements and communications of Palestinians, often under opaque legal justifications and broad security excuses. The broader pattern points to a regime that relies on tech controls and cyber surveillance to shape daily life in the occupied territories.
orwell’s reality
Hamouri explains that oversight in the occupied areas has frequently leaned on observation and data collection to influence every aspect of Palestinian daily life. The aim, he says, is to map where people go, what they do, and how they interact, in hopes of predicting and controlling behavior. Itxaso Dominguez de Olazabal, who leads 7amleh in the European Union, notes that a regional center for monitoring digital abuse has formed around this issue, with partners in the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Networks focusing on how information technology can be used to suppress freedom of expression. Palestinians often feel sustained pressure as surveillance becomes almost an everyday presence, reshaping concepts of privacy and personal safety under occupation.
Walking through Jerusalem offers a stark sense of this reality, with hundreds of cameras recording daily life and feeding databases meant to track individuals across professional, family, and security records. Experts describe how biometric data can be aggregated to inform decisions about detentions and other restrictions. Tech investments from global firms also play a role; for instance, a major technology company has supported face recognition ventures that have been linked to security activities in the region. These tools, already in use, contribute to the power dynamics of control over mobility and access.
Pro-Palestinian content removed
The ongoing surveillance landscape has amplified concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Palestinian authorities, along with dissidents, have warned that digital monitoring can be exploited to stifle expression and targeted activism. The absence of robust privacy protections and clear data laws further complicates the situation, raising questions about who holds the right to access and manage information about individuals and communities. Observers note that there are persistent pressures on free, secure, and equal rights when information and telecommunications infrastructure come under occupation.
In contrast to these pressures, social platforms have faced scrutiny over the moderation of politically sensitive content. Critics argue that some platforms remove material related to Palestinian struggles, shaping the public narrative in ways that seem to silence protest. Observers emphasize that surveillance capabilities and cyber tools place real power in the hands of those who control the digital landscape, affecting both ordinary citizens and organized groups.
Analysts warn that these technologies are not merely local quirks but parts of a broader, interconnected system of surveillance and influence. The region has become a focal point for debates about how cyber capabilities are deployed in conflict zones, with many watching to see how international norms, laws, and ethical considerations adapt to rapid technological change.
profession export
Experts point to the export of surveillance technologies as a matter of serious concern. The same systems used to monitor and control populations in contested areas can be found in other regions through various channels. Observers note how products tested in one context may later appear in different settings, raising questions about accountability and transparency in the multinational tech supply chain. Proponents argue that such tools can aid security and public safety, but critics stress the need for clear rules governing their use against dissent, human rights defenders, and activists.
Former security personnel and industry insiders who helped build these systems are frequently cited in discussions about responsibility and origin. The debate centers on how to balance legitimate security interests with universal rights and legal norms. While some see the technology as an inevitable evolution, others warn about the potential for abuse and the chilling effect that pervasive digital monitoring can have on political engagement and civic life.