The ongoing conflict in Gaza has left residents struggling to stay connected amid bombings, fuel shortages, and internet blackouts. Communications are vital for updating families and accessing emergency services, but the challenges are immense. Khalil Salim, forced to flee his home, relied on online sources and social media to navigate the dangers and find safety for his family.
We would take instructions from the internet. We couldn’t assess the internal fighting, so we would follow the news and channels and look at Facebook,” Salim said. The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) is working to facilitate communication and coordination for regional humanitarian aid.
Efforts include securing approval for FM radio broadcast equipment, delivering telecommunications and IT equipment, and supporting UN agency operations with solar-powered solutions. However, even before the recent bombings, telecommunications in Gaza were severely limited. The Palestinian telecoms have been denied the ability to upgrade their networks.
They’re still running on 2G networks,” explained Marwa Fatafta, MENA Policy and Advocacy Director at Access Now. Amid the blackouts, some Gazans have turned to eSIMs as a workaround. These digital SIMs allow phones to connect to cellular networks outside of Gaza.
Staying connected amid conflicts
Activists have been assisting Gazans in activating eSIMs purchased through services like Simly, Holafly, or Nomad. However, the stability and scalability of this solution are significant issues.
The internet is not available in Gaza. The only way is to utilize the spillover effect of mobile signals and connect to cell towers from neighboring areas, mainly Israel and Egypt,” said Hanna Kreitem, a senior advisor at the Internet Society. Fatafta emphasized the critical nature of communications during this crisis.
Having access to the internet has been a real struggle in Gaza, and that’s a direct result of the bombardment of internet and telecommunications infrastructure. There’s been a lot of damage and destruction of cell towers, cables, and offices of internet service providers.”
The fuel shortage exacerbates the problem, with major telecommunications companies running out of fuel for operations. Israel has also deliberately shut down communications as a siege tactic, making it impossible to call for help in emergencies.
Efforts to stay connected are fraught with danger. “Those who managed to connect are really struggling to find a signal. You have to go to the rooftop or move from one location to another to catch a weak signal, which is life-endangering,” Fatafta said.
While eSIMs have provided a tenuous lifeline for some, Fatafta concluded, “It’s a solution to an extent, but you cannot connect two million people in Gaza over eSIM cards.”
