GAZA’S ‘HUMAN ROUTERS’ KEEP DISPLACED CONNECTED TO HOPE
▶ Volunteers provide communication lifeline to thousands cut off by lack of internet as war rages on in enclave
Sajid Al Abadla sits on a bench on Gaza’s coast, near the city of Khan Younis, the scene of heavy Israeli bombardment.
He begins his daily routine early each morning by activating a non-Palestinian e-SIM on his mobile phone.
He then sets out to create a communication point accessible for displaced people who come to this location in the hope of connecting with their relatives at home and abroad.
“Going slightly north, you won’t pick [up] a signal, and further south also wouldn’t work. Here is the best location to get those e-Sims to work,” he told The National.
Mr Al Abdala, 26, is one of several people who have become known locally as “Gaza’s human routers”, setting up communication sites.
Since October 27, when Israel initially severed internet access for 2.3 million people in Gaza displaced by intense bombardments, they have faced several communication shutdowns.
This has hindered humanitarian relief efforts and has left relatives scattered across the enclave, unable to communicate with each other.
On October 28, various efforts were launched on social media to distribute free, paid-for e-SIM cards to Gazans.
Organisers of the Connecting Gaza campaign report that thousands of Gazans have gained connectivity through the e-SIMS, provided by donors worldwide.
Balanced on his toes with a mobile phone raised high towards the sky to obtain a signal, Mr Al Abdala smiled.
“It’s amazing to see people, who have gone through so much for months, and have been unable to connect with loved ones,” he said.
“It’s amazing to see their eyes light up when hearing voices of loved ones, alive and safe.
I’m happy to be part of these efforts, here and abroad, to connect people despite almost complete interruption of communications and the internet in the Gaza Strip.”
Standing on the shore, Mr Al Abdala can easily see nearby Israeli naval vessels.
He said that on numerous occasions the boats launched attacks on Gaza.
Accessing these locations is not easy for Gazans.
Due to severe fuel shortages, commuting by car is not an option for most people.
It takes about an hour on foot to travel to the coast from the nearest refugee camps, in Al Mawasi.
Mr Al Abdala said dozens of people came to the location to ask for assistance. “They’re from all walks of life. We help them all,” said the IT graduate.
Muhammad Yassin, 37, also helps displaced people to connect to the internet.
He either assists them in activating free e-SIMS he obtained from donors, or buys them himself and hands them out free of charge.
“They’re not very cheap, but I’m steadfast to keep doing this, out of humanitarian and national feeling of duty,” he said.
“Some people have not been able to communicate with their loved ones for a month.
“They’re already enduring so much. It’s the least I can do to help them restore some hope by connecting with their parents or children.”
Zakia Ibrahim, 76, was cut off from her son, a doctor in Britain, for six weeks until the mobile routers enabled her to communicate with him again.
“Communications are usually cut off, and even when faults are repaired, the internet doesn’t work inside Al Mawasi area,” she said.
“The displaced become completely isolated from the world, were it not for these creative young people who deserve a medal of appreciation for their great efforts.”
Ms Ibrahim said the human routers were always around despite the dangers posed by Israeli bombing. “They never turn anyone down and work on a voluntary basis to provide internet access for all,” she said.
Ashraf Al Astal, an IT specialist, said a lot of the e-SIM providers were outside Palestine, meaning signals were weak.
“Some are not intended to operate in Palestinian territories and so what we do is try to intercept their signals. And that’s why we hunt for high-rise locations from which we can do that,” he said.
“These attempts … to provide alternative ways to connect to the internet are a serious and real attempt to break the siege imposed by the occupation and deprive the Palestinians of communication with the world.
“This goes beyond the idea of communication between families. It allows journalists to document the genocide taking place in the Gaza Strip.”
The Connecting Gaza campaign says thousands have gained connectivity through e-SIMs from donors