What we do
Context
Since October 2023 Israel has dropped over 70,000 tonnes of bombs on Gaza, killing over 40,000 and injuring over 90,000, mostly women and children. There is widespread devastation, destruction of 80% of the telecoms equipment and blocking of internet services lead to an internet blackout. This blackout meant that no information could leave Gaza, making communication impossible, propaganda more effective and war crimes going undocumented.
Palestinians struggled to access essential information about safer areas and to communicate with loved ones. Aid workers and medical staff faced significant obstacles in coordinating relief efforts. The inability to call for help in emergencies and get information on safer areas put countless lives at risk daily.
Context
Our Approach
We discovered when working with journalists in Gaza that eSIMs (virtual sim cards) can connect to cellular networks outside of Gaza in Israel and Egypt.
Since August 2023 we have provided over 400,000 eSIMs to people in Gaza, funded by donations. Almost every photo seen from Gaza since then has come through a Connecting Humanity eSIM. They are used by journalists, medical professionals, aid workers, families, people documenting the genocide, children and students. As the global public builds pressure to stop the genocide, eSIMs allow voices from Gaza to be heard every day.
eSIMs are currently the only scalable solution for people in Gaza to connect to the internet and require minimal physical infrastructure and logistics. Each eSIM connected phone can serve as a hotspot, allowing multiple users to access the internet through one eSIM.
While food and medical aid is critical, the Israeli blockade is making it harder to help people in Gaza. eSIMs are one of the few resources that people in Gaza can receive from the outside world.
We aim to help bring an end to the genocide and to start to rebuild Gaza by providing free internet access, as well as expand to provide internet access to people in other conflict zones.
Our work has been reported in
We have also been awarded in the Electronic Frontier Foundation Award for our work
Our Impact
In Summary
400,000 eSIMs used in Gaza
Since October 2023 Connecting Humanity has shared over 400,000 eSIMs with people in Gaza. Over $10 million USD worth of eSIMs has been funded by individual donors through social media campaigns.
Gaza is connected to the outside world
Since then almost every photo seen from Gaza (except images from the Israeli government and satellites) has come through an eSIMs. Journalists and people documenting their experiences are educating the public, combating propaganda and providing evidence for war crimes investigations. As the international community builds pressure to stop the genocide, eSIMs allow voices from Gaza to be heard every day.
People in Gaza are connected to each other
eSIMs have become the only viable means of communication for most people in Gaza, enabling civilians to stay connected with loved ones and access vital information.
Emergency aid, rescue workers and medical care
eSIMs allow humanitarian organisations, medical staff and aid workers to coordinate rescues and deliver aid and medical care.
Safety of people in Gaza
Humanitarian assistance
Organisations providing humanitarian assistance, coordination of medical staff and aid workers use the internet to coordinate relief efforts and provide assistance.
Avoiding bombings
Internet access allows people to try to avoid more dangerous areas and to receive Israeli evacuation orders before bombings.
Rescue workers
eSIMs allow rescue workers to locate victims of bombings and recover bodies.
Accessing aid
Internet access helps people in Gaza access aid, support services and emergency information.
Public information and combatting disinformation
"At the center of Israel's information warfare campaign is a tactical mission to dehumanize Palestinians and to flood the public discourse with a stream of false, unsubstantiated, and unverifiable allegations."
- Jeremy Scahill, The InterceptJournalism
Eye witness footage
Public campaigns
Public campaigns
Despite Israel destroying the telecoms infrastructure in Gaza, eSIMs have allowed:
Gaza to share its story
Increased public awareness
Organisations to campaign for a ceasefire
Evidence for war crimes prosecutions
Evidence for war crimes prosecutions
International court cases are using the evidence shared through eSIMs.
International Courts of Justice
The International Courts of Justice are hearing two cases:
1. South Africa v. Israel: South Africa has accused Israel of 75-year apartheid, 56-year occupation, and 16-year blockade of the Strip. The ICJ has ordered Israel to ensure basic food supplies and an immediate halt to Israel's offensive in Rafah.
2. Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories: the court found that the creation of Israeli settlements and exploitation of natural resources are illegal under international law.
Connecting families
Connecting families
Almost the entire population of Gaza have been displaced from their homes. Link. eSIMs allow people in Gaza to stay connected with each other and with people abroad through:Reuniting families
eSIMs help to find missing family members and to reunite and connect displaced people in Gaza.
Connecting to loved ones
Supporting education
The UN estimates that more than 80% of schools and universities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed and over 1000 teachers killed , which it describes it as a ‘scholasticide’. Children who make up half of the population in Gaza need education, safety information on avoiding unexploded bombs, psychological support, aid and food.Children
Supporting education
Our Vision
Supporting Gaza
We want to help bring an end to the genocide and to start to rebuild Gaza by providing free internet access there and in other conflict zones.
The need for internet connectivity in Gaza is more urgent than ever, the genocide is continuing with ongoing war crimes.
Post genocide it will take months or even years to rebuilt the internet infrastructure, eSIMs will still be needed. We will help people in Gaza to rebuild their lives through partnering with organisations to support them both online and in person once the blockade has been lifted.
Your support can help us maintain this vital lifeline, ensuring that the people of Gaza remain connected during the time of greatest need, fostering resilience and hope in the face of adversity. You will enable life-saving communication, supporting journalism, war crimes investigations and ensuring that the voices of Palestinians are heard worldwide.
Supporting Gaza
Funding goals
Help us to provide internet access to more than 1 million people in Gaza and in other countries experiencing conflict and genocide.
Our first target is to raise $1 million US Dollars from grants and donations. Your funding will allow us to buy eSIMs at wholesale prices so we can help more people.
For every $150,000 raised, we can provide approximately 10,000 eSIMs, each capable of serving as a hotspot for multiple users.
This would have an immense impact on the ground, allowing families to stay connected, enabling critical communications for medical emergencies, and ensuring that the voices of those in Gaza continue to be heard.
For example we are working to connect Gaza University online, which consists of 20,000 students (500 with disabilities) and staff members
Please help us in maintaining this vital lifeline.
