Connecting Humanity

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Connecting Humanity
Founder Mirna El Helbawi
Location
Website gazaesims.com

Connecting Humanity (also known as Connecting Gaza) is an activist collective which provides internet access to people in Gaza using donated eSIMs, allowing them to connect to networks outside of Gaza. [1] [2] It is run by Mirna El Helbawi, an Egyptian journalist, writer and activist. [3] [4] Over 200,000 people in Gaza (around 10% of the population) have received internet access through an eSIM. [5] [6]

Contents

Background

The Israeli Ministry of Communications has control over the cellular communications and technology Palestinians may build, which has been limited to 2G. [1] [7] Direct attacks on telecommunications infrastructure by Israel, electricity blockades and fuel shortages have caused the near-total collapse of Gaza's largest cell network providers. [4] [5] [8]

Lack of internet access has obstructed Gazan citizens from communicating with loved ones, learning of IDF operations, and identifying both the areas most exposed to bombing and possible escape routes. [4] The blackouts have also impeded emergency services, making it more difficult to locate and access the time-critical injured, [4] and have impeded humanitarian aid agencies and journalists as well. [4]

First use of eSIMs

The Egyptian journalist, writer and activist Mirna El Helbawi discovered that eSIMs (a programmable SIM card built into a smartphone [9] ) could be used by people in Gaza to connect to remote telecommunication networks whilst roaming (primarily Egyptian and Israeli networks). [10] [11] The first people she was able to connect by this method were Egyptian journalist Ahmed El-Madhoun and Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary. [12] [4] The collective uses eSIMs from the providers Nomad, Holafly, Airalo and Simly which are activated by unique, easily transmissible one-time, screenshot QR Codes. [13]

Impact

Connecting Humanity/Gaza claims that by December 2023, 200,000 Gazans (approximately 10% of the population) had received internet access through an eSIM. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza Strip</span> Self-governing Palestinian territory next to Egypt and Israel

The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a polity and the smaller of the two Palestinian territories. On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Gaza is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza–Israel barrier</span> Border barrier between the Palestinian Gaza Strip and Israel

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafah Border Crossing</span> Border crossing between Egypt and Palestines Gaza Strip

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erez Crossing</span> Border crossing on the northern end of the Gaza Strip

The Erez Crossing, also known as the Beit Hanoun Crossing, is a border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel. It is located at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, between the Israeli kibbutz of Erez and the Palestinian town of Beit Hanoun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 breach of the Egypt–Gaza border</span> Explosion set off by Hamas militants

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blockade of the Gaza Strip</span> 2005–present land, sea and air blockade by Israel and Egypt

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egypt–Palestine relations</span> Bilateral relations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agreement on Movement and Access</span> Israeli-Palestinian agreement

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)</span> Humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirna El Helbawi</span> Egyptian journalist and activist (born 1992)

Mirna El Helbawi is an Egyptian journalist, writer, podcaster and activist. She is the founder of Connecting Humanity, a non-profit organisation that helps people in Gaza to regain access to the internet, using donated eSIMs. She was nominated for the Arab Journalism Award in 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 Vo, Lam Thuy (2023-11-07). "'Let Me Tell Them Goodbye Before They Get Killed': How eSIM Cards Are Connecting Palestinian Families – The Markup". themarkup.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. ↑ Kershner, Isabel; Nereim, Vivian; Shankar, Vivek; Rogers, Katie (29 October 2023). "Gazans had no cell service. An effort led from Egypt helped reconnect them". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ "This activist is helping Palestinians get back online in Gaza when connection is lost under Israeli attack". CNN. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Español, Marc (2024-01-29). "The Egyptians who have sent more than 130,000 digital cell phone cards to Gaza to defy blackouts". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  5. 1 2 Aly, Rasha (2023-12-17). "Palestinians in Gaza using eSim cards to get around communications blackout". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  6. ↑ "When Gaza lost telephone and internet connection, this activist found a way to get Palestinians back online". The Mercury News. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Why Gaza keeps losing communications". Washington Post. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  8. ↑ Vo, Lam Thuy (2023-11-07). "'Let Me Tell Them Goodbye Before They Get Killed': How eSIM Cards Are Connecting Palestinian Families – The Markup". themarkup.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  9. ↑ "What is an eSIM? Here's all you need to know in 2024". Saily. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  10. ↑ Collier, Kevin; Abdelkader, Rima (19 January 2024). "Palestinians are using donated eSIM cards to stay in touch with the outside world". NBC News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "How eSims are helping thousands in Gaza stay connected amid blackouts". NPR.
  12. ↑ Hesham, Merna (2024-03-19). "'Palestinians won't be silenced again!' : Egyptian journalist Mirna El-Helbawi initiative to get Gaza back online". Ahram Online.
  13. ↑ "eSims For Gaza". gazaesims.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  14. ↑ Elassar, Alaa; Tucker, Emma (2023-12-03). "When Gaza lost phone and internet under Israeli attack, this activist found a way to get Palestinians back online". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
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