Today marks the second year of the conflict in Gaza. Read TSF's statement on the matter below.
After two years of war, the situation in Gaza is unbearable. Famine, blocked access to humanitarian aid, forced displacement; as a new peace effort is underway in Egypt, TSF calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and the release of hostages and arbitrarily detained civilians.
For two years, the situation in Gaza has become increasingly untenable. The conflict has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians. Hundreds of thousands more have been injured and are struggling to receive care from overwhelmed and attacked health facilities. Forcibly displaced time and again and exhausted, the inhabitants of Gaza are facing a famine, in a context that experts from the UN International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territory have described as genocide.
Despite collaborations with various organizations and initiatives, particularly in Lebanon, TSF has been unable to initiate a humanitarian project, either in the bombed areas of southern Lebanon or in the Palestinian territories, due to restrictions on access for humanitarian organizations.
Humanitarian access refers to the ability to provide aid directly to people in crisis situations. However, severe restrictions on aid distribution in Gaza are impacting this effort. Humanitarian access to Gaza has been severely limited by the warring parties since the start of the war, and continues to deteriorate.
Yet the needs in Gaza are immeasurable. In terms of connectivity, the voice and internet services of Palestinian telecom operators are severely disrupted due to extensive damage to infrastructure, fuel shortages, lack of spare parts, and restricted access to repairs due to import restrictions. Civilian initiatives exist to provide the people of Gaza with some connectivity, including “Connecting Humanity,” which uses eSIMs to provide calls and text messages.
Organizations specializing in digital rights working in the field remind us, when people have no choice but to fight for their daily survival, and their most basic needs are not being met, there is little room for their other needs. TSF stands ready to help meet emergency communication needs as soon as conditions allow.
The conflict in Gaza, like other crises around the world, highlights the deliberate deprivation of the most basic human needs - including communication - for entire populations. While advocacy is not currently part of TSF's social mission, we believe it is necessary to speak out when humanitarian principles and international law are so gravely undermined.
TSF calls for a lasting and just peace in Gaza and the Palestinian territories. Decisive measures must be taken to enable individuals and families who are victims of war to regain hope for their lives and futures. TSF urges for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access. We also call for the release of all hostages and civilians detained arbitrarily. International humanitarian law must be respected by all.