Communication Crisis in Gaza
The telecommunications infrastructure in Gaza has suffered a total collapse as a result of Israel’s intensifying military bombardment. With mobile phone and internet services cut off, over 2 million Palestinians are now without reliable communication to the outside world.
Jawwal, the Palestinian telecom company that provides mobile phone service in Gaza, announced that all communications services have been severed due to Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling. NetBlocks, a nonprofit organization that monitors internet disruptions, has observed a collapse in connectivity to the Gaza Strip, particularly impacting Paltel, the parent company of Jawwal.
Impact on Gaza’s Connectivity
Israeli airstrikes over the past few weeks have continually targeted the offices and infrastructure of Palestinian telecommunication providers, leading to disrupted internet and phone services in Gaza. Cloudflare Radar, a service for tracking global internet traffic, has provided data pointing to this decline in connectivity.
Humanitarian Consequences
The complete loss of communication in Gaza has severe humanitarian consequences. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has lost all contact with its operations room and teams in Gaza, hindering their ability to provide assistance. The New York Times has also experienced difficulties in reaching the residents of Gaza by phone.
This communication blackout compounds the challenges faced by over 2 million Palestinians, particularly children, who are already struggling to access basic necessities like drinking water, food, and medical supplies. The cutoff of electricity in Gaza has further disrupted telecommunications, forcing individuals to resort to alternative methods, such as charging their phones using car batteries.
Implications of the Communications Collapse
The “information blockade” in Gaza not only makes it harder for civilians to survive but also raises concerns about the dissemination of misinformation. With a lack of video and other communications coming out of Gaza, there is a risk that false information could dominate pro-Palestinian sentiment communities, overshadowing factual reporting.
Palestinians in Gaza were already limited to older 2G cellular network services while the rest of the world has advanced to 4G and 5G. This restriction on mobile phone technology and services has long been imposed by Israeli authorities.
Background of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The Israeli military strikes on Gaza were triggered by a cross-border attack by Hamas militants, the military arm of the Hamas organization that controls Gaza. This attack, which occurred on October 7, resulted in the death of over 1,400 people in Israel and the abduction of hundreds of hostages.
Since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported over 7,000 Palestinians killed and a significantly higher number injured.
