Gaza, 23 October 2025 – Ahead of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, Al Mezan seizes this opportunity to draw attention to Israel’s restrictions on Palestinians’ digital rights and access to information.

Over the past two years of genocide in Gaza, Israel has systematically targeted Palestinian journalists and media workers. They serve as the primary source of information regarding the reality on the ground in Gaza, and are invaluable to disseminating information and improving media literacy on Palestinian human rights. Between 7 October 2023 and 26 September 2025, Israeli attacks killed 303 Palestinian journalists and media workers, injured 433, and arbitrarily detained 48 others. Gaza's journalists have been the targets of smear campaigns by Israel and have been falsely accused of spreading disinformation. Israel's targeting of Palestinian journalists strongly points to a concerted effort to silence them through death and intimidation to stop them from disseminating information, which they do through digital channels, and obscure the reality of this genocide from being shared with the world.

Further disrupting the ability for Palestinians to access and share information freely, Israel has repeatedly imposed full and partial telecommunications shutdowns in Gaza. These shutdowns have deliberately cut off the internet and phone services for extended periods of time, severely disrupting Palestinians' access to information, each other, and what remains of essential services such as first responders. The effects of these blackouts are especially consequential, as they coincide with Israel's persistent large-scale attacks on Palestinians and repeated violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

According to 7amleh—The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, citing data from the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, around 75% of Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged, with at least 50% of it being destroyed beyond repair. On 12 June 2025, a complete internet blackout across Gaza occurred after Israeli forces targeted the last remaining fiber-optic line serving the central and southern governorates. This blackout marked at least the twenty-third shutdown in Gaza since October 2023. The sudden loss of communication during blackouts in Gaza can have dangerous consequences. Access to critical emergency services and humanitarian coordination is cut off, coordination within hospitals is affected, and the flow of vital information within communities is disrupted.

In addition to repeated blackouts, Gaza's telecommunications infrastructure is under the full control of Israel. While the rest of the world has already moved on to 4G and 5G networks capable of supporting today's digital communications landscape, Israeli authorities impose technological restrictions that limits Gaza to 2G networks. According to 7amleh, Gaza is one of the last places on earth still limited to 2G services. Israel's deliberate stifling of Gaza's telecommunications sector for decades, now coupled with the deliberate destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, means that Palestinians in Gaza are increasingly digitally isolated in a world that is more digitally connected than ever. Palestinian should have access to digital spaces to exercise their right to freely access information and to freedom of expression. This is especially important in the context of the genocide, as Israel has purposefully tried to discredit and deny information shared by Palestinian journalists and Palestinian civil society documenting facts on the ground.

Al Mezan calls on the international community to take urgent action to end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, in which Israel maintain control over Gaza's telecommunications infrastructure, keeping them from accessing digital spaces and obstructing vital communications. Israel must also be held accountable for its systematic blackout policy and destruction of essential telecommunications infrastructure. Al Mezan further urges the international community to ensure the protection of journalists and media workers in Gaza, and protect their right to freedom of expression.