Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: The Israeli army took control of the Madleen ship and arrested the activists.
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: IOF have boarded the Madleen ship and communication with the ship was lost.
Israeli media: The Israeli occupation forces have begun storming the Madleen.
Reuters: The Freedom Flotilla Coalition sounds the alarm on the Madleen ship heading to Gaza in anticipation of being intercepted by the Israeli occupation.
Israeli media: Finance Minister Smotrich announces the opening and commencement of construction of a new settlement in Jabal Abu Rubin, near Beitunia in the West Bank.
Local Syrian sources to Al Mayadeen: Clashes between local fighters and Israeli occupation soldiers around the Maariyah barracks in the far western Daraa countryside.
Khatib: We will reveal the documents soon.
Khatib: The operation was carried out some time ago, but we preferred to delay announcing the news to ensure the operation’s safety.
Khatib: We are refraining from revealing the methods used to transfer the documents at this time.
Khatib: The methods used to transfer the documents into Iran are just as important as the documents themselves.

IOF deliberate targeting of telecom isolated Gaza amid genocide

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: PCBS
  • 16 May 2024 15:36
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) condemns the deliberate targeting of Gaza's telecommunication and information technology sector by Israeli occupation forces.

  • x
  • A cellphone tower in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, amid Israeli relentless strikes (Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
    A cellphone tower in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, amid Israeli relentless strikes (AFP/Getty Images)

On the eve of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy issued a joint press release highlighting the theme of this year's event: "Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development." The focus is on how digital innovation can foster connectivity and drive sustainable prosperity.

However, the press release underscored the repercussions of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the continual violations of human rights, including the freedom of communication and expression.

The statement condemned the Israeli occupation's deliberate targeting of the telecommunication and information technology sector in an effort to isolate Gaza from the global community.

In further detail, the Israeli attacks aimed to obscure the truths and atrocities of genocide, which are being communicated to the world through various channels, as per the statement.

Israeli aggression disrupts Gaza telecommunications, hinders relief efforts

More than two million citizens in the Gaza Strip have faced severe disruption to telecommunication services on more than ten occasions, as the Israeli occupation has intentionally targeted the sector, the statement revealed.

The deliberate Israeli actions have led to increased suffering, hindering rescue efforts and isolating residents from communication channels necessary for seeking assistance, it added.

Related News

75% of Gaza's telecom infrastructure severely damaged, report finds

The statement stressed that journalists and field reporters have encountered obstacles in their work due to these disruptions, violating international laws and fundamental rights outlined in international conventions.

Telecommunication services have been completely severed in Gaza approximately ten times, often coinciding with escalated Israeli aggression, the statement stressed.

According to a report by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor released on February 13, 2024, Palestinian citizens, including journalists, have been directly targeted by Israeli occupation forces while attempting to use mobile services, internet, and electronic SIM cards to communicate with their families, relatives, or employers. Such incidents have occurred through sniper fire or drone attacks across various regions of the Gaza Strip.

Gaza telecommunications infrastructure suffers massive damage 

Before the recent Israeli aggression, Gaza experienced significant growth in its telecommunications sector, with over one million active cellular phone subscriptions and 93% of households having internet access. However, the infrastructure supporting telecommunications companies in Gaza has been deliberately targeted and destroyed by Israeli occupation forces, as per the statement.

The statement went on to say that key components, such as main and sub-switches, towers, sites, fiber optic networks, and transmission lines have been disabled or destroyed, leading to widespread breakdowns in communication services. Fuel shortages required to power generators, compounded by power outages, have exacerbated the situation.

According to data from the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy, out of 841 mobile phone towers before the aggression, approximately 75% were rendered inoperable as of mid-April 2024. The losses incurred by the information and communication technology and postal sectors in Gaza during the first six months of the aggression are estimated to be around USD 223 million.

Israeli aggression causes a sharp 91% decline in Gaza's communication sector

The statement further emphasized that recent data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) highlight a significant downturn in the information and communication sector in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, during the first three months of Israeli aggression.

Quarterly national accounts estimates for the fourth quarter of 2023 reveal a stark decline, with the value added of information and communication activity plummeting by 91% in Gaza. In the same period, the sector's value added in all of Palestine decreased by 20%, reaching USD 106 million compared to USD 132 million in the third quarter of the same year. Similarly, in the West Bank, there was an 18% decrease, with the value-added dropping from USD 128 million to USD 105 million.

In Gaza specifically, the value added for information and communication activity in the fourth quarter amounted to a mere USD 400 thousand, a drastic decrease from USD 4.4 million in the third quarter of 2023.

  • Gaza telecommunication
  • war on Gaza
  • Israeli aggression
  • WTISD
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Telecommunication
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
Iranian demonstrators walk on a caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 28, 2025 (AP)

Iran hits 'Israel' hard without arms; intel breach lays Tel Aviv bare

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, waits to board the Madleen boat, before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gaza aid vessel vows to continue until final moment: Activists

A view of the Knesset through the entrance window. (Agencies)
Politics

Haredi parties push for Knesset dissolution, call PM 'a burden'

Palestinians carry the body of Ahmed Abu Hilal, who was killed while on his way to an aid hub in Gaza, during his funeral in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US 'aid centers' in Gaza are deadly traps: Palestinian Resistance

An aerial view shows sections of the columns in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, Saturday, January 25, 2025 (AP)
Arts and Culture

Syria’s ancient sites looted as artifacts flood online markets

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS