On World Internet Day, Gaza Struggles To Restore Connectivity
On a day marked to celebrate global connectivity, Gaza finds itself grappling with an ironic disconnect. Today is World Internet Day, and yet Gaza remains isolated due to a telecommunications and internet blackout that started on Friday night. Palestinian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ishaq Sidr announced Saturday that efforts were in motion to restore services. He noted that his ministry had contacted Egypt for help in opening Egyptian networks in the enclave, although there has yet to be any official confirmation from Egypt.
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The ministry has also secured approval from Starlink, operated by the US-based private space company SpaceX, to provide satellite-based internet service. Starlink is in the process of moving its devices into “sensitive areas” within Gaza.
This communications crisis follows the recent attacks on two telecom towers by Israel, which has increased airstrikes and expanded its ground operations in the Hamas-governed territory. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in more than 8,000 deaths in Gaza and at least 1,400 in Israel, according to official statistics.
