Gazans are rapidly losing access to the internet
Gazans are rapidly losing access to the internet The Economist
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Sustainable Development Goals and Internet Connectivity in Gaza
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Introduction
ON OCTOBER 9TH, in response to a deadly attack on Israeli soil by Hamas, the Palestinian militants that run Gaza, Israel tightened its blockade on the strip. Internet connectivity, which has always been lower in Gaza than the rest of the region, has fallen significantly since the start of the current fighting (see chart). That presents an enormous challenge for civilians and aid workers, and restricts Israel’s ability to communicate with Gazans.
Gaza’s Internet Infrastructure
Israel has tight control over Gaza’s internet infrastructure. Fibre-optic cables to the strip pass through Israel. It has also banned technology upgrades that would make connections more secure, meaning that mobile-internet providers there are limited to 2G. This is much slower than the 5G connection that most Israelis can get access to, compounding connectivity issues.
Impact of the Conflict
Since the start of the current conflict Israeli air strikes have crippled Gaza’s already fragile communications infrastructure. Attempted repairs are fraught with danger. And, on October 11th, due to Israel’s blockade, Gaza’s only power plant ran out of fuel. This has further throttled internet connection, as well as hitting other crucial infrastructure such as desalination plants.
The hit to connectivity in some districts is so severe as to be equivalent to a shutdown caused by a government order or a natural disaster. The hit to connectivity levels is greater than that in Ukraine in the early weeks of its conflict last year. For some areas the internet will, in effect, be offline: cellular data and home broadband will not work. In other areas the internet will be usable but slow. In places that used to have several functioning fibre-optic cables and internet service providers, there is now just one. Text-based messaging may work depending on the provider or region, but audio and video will be very slow, if they work at all.
The Importance of Internet Access during War
Internet access takes on a new importance during war. The UN monitors outages because they can give cover to human-rights violations. It is vital for alerts to be transmitted, too: on October 10th the Israel Defence Forces used Facebook to warn residents of Gaza’s al-Daraj neighbourhood about forthcoming airstrikes. Without stable internet, it becomes harder for anyone to know what is going on.■
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 | – Internet connectivity levels in Gaza compared to the rest of the region – Impact of Israeli blockade on internet infrastructure in Gaza – Limited access to secure and high-speed internet connections in Gaza |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements | – Impact of restricted internet connectivity on the ability to transmit alerts and information during war – Monitoring of internet outages as a measure of human rights violations |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 9, which focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure. Specifically, the article discusses the significant challenges faced by civilians and aid workers in Gaza due to the tightened blockade by Israel, resulting in a significant decrease in internet connectivity. This highlights the lack of access to information and communications technology in Gaza, which is a key aspect of SDG 9.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issues highlighted in the article also connect to SDG 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions. The restricted internet connectivity in Gaza during the conflict impacts the ability to transmit alerts and information, making it harder for individuals to know what is going on. This relates to the target of ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, as stated in SDG 16.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
The article highlights the limited internet connectivity in Gaza, particularly due to the Israeli blockade and restrictions on technology upgrades. This indicates a lack of progress towards achieving universal and affordable access to the Internet in Gaza, which is the target specified under SDG 9.c.
Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
The restricted internet connectivity in Gaza during the conflict hinders public access to information and limits the ability to protect fundamental freedoms. This aligns with the target of ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms stated in SDG 16.10.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Internet connectivity levels in Gaza compared to the rest of the region: This indicator can be used to assess the progress towards achieving universal and affordable access to the Internet in Gaza, as stated in SDG 9.c.
- Impact of Israeli blockade on internet infrastructure in Gaza: This indicator can provide insights into the extent to which the blockade affects access to information and communications technology in Gaza, contributing to SDG 9.c.
- Limited access to secure and high-speed internet connections in Gaza: This indicator reflects the challenges faced by Gaza residents in accessing reliable and fast internet connections, which is relevant to SDG 9.c.
- Impact of restricted internet connectivity on the ability to transmit alerts and information during war: This indicator highlights the importance of stable internet access for transmitting crucial information during conflicts, aligning with SDG 16.10.
- Monitoring of internet outages as a measure of human rights violations: This indicator demonstrates the significance of tracking internet outages as a means to identify potential human rights violations, supporting SDG 16.10.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 | – Internet connectivity levels in Gaza compared to the rest of the region – Impact of Israeli blockade on internet infrastructure in Gaza – Limited access to secure and high-speed internet connections in Gaza |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements | – Impact of restricted internet connectivity on the ability to transmit alerts and information during war – Monitoring of internet outages as a measure of human rights violations |
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Source: economist.com
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