[Chapter-delegates] Internet Shutdown in Gaza : Request for ISOC's Position

[Jessica Dickinson Goodman]

Dear ISOC Community,

The Board of the San Francisco Bay Area ISOC Chapter wishes to cosign
Mike's view, both a) and b).

As a personal aside, to Julf's question, here is some current sourcing that
the deprivation of Internet is deliberate in this case:

   1. "Israel restored Gaza’s internet under U.S. pressure, official says;
   Netanyahu warns of long war
   <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/29/israel-war-hamas-gaza-news-palestine/>"
   (October 30, 2023 | *Washington Post*)
   2. "Internet Blackouts in Gaza Are a New Weapon in the Israel-Hamas War:
   Israel has said it’s prepared to disrupt internet service in Gaza,
   signaling a new age of warfare
   <https://www.wired.com/story/israel-gaza-internet-blackouts-weapon/>."
   (November 6, 2023 | *Wired*)
   3. "Palestine unplugged: how Israel disrupts Gaza’s internet
   <https://www.accessnow.org/publication/palestine-unplugged/>" (November
   10, 2023 | *Access Now*)

The fog of war obscures a lot of truth, but this is one reality that seems
both well-sourced and clear: Israel is shutting down Gaza's Internet access
as a weapon of war.

With respect,

*Jessica Dickinson Goodman*
Board President
Internet Society: San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

On Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 7:48 AM Mike Godwin via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> ISOC already has taken a position against internet shutdowns, and in
> support of internet access as a basic necessity and right--see, e.g.,
> https://www.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ISOC-PolicyBrief-Shutdowns-2019.pdf
> .
>
> My personal view is that  it is both (a) consistent with ISOC's
> longstanding positions and (b) necessary for humanitarian reasons that ISOC
> take note of and condemn the targeting of infrastructure that has led to
> shutdown of internet access in Gaza.
>
> Mike Godwin
> Member, Chapter Council, ISOC-DC
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 9:53 AM Johan Helsingius via Chapter-delegates <
> chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear ISOC Palestine,
>>
>> I agree that the ISOC community should clearly condemn the use of
>> the internet as a war tool. In this specific case I still have to
>> ask if we have sufficient evidence that the Internet outages are
>> a result of deliberate shutdowns rather than collateral damage
>> from general actions of war.
>>
>>         Julf
>>
>>
>> On 19/11/2023 10:11, ISOC Palestine via Chapter-delegates wrote:
>> > Dear ISOC community,
>> >
>> > This past weekend, the internet in Gaza was completely disconnected,
>> > impacting all communication services for two days. This disconnection
>> > has serious implications for basic human rights, safety, and the
>> > livelihoods of Gaza residents. This marks the fourth internet shutdown
>> > in the last 40 days, attributed to three main reasons:
>> >
>> > 1. Destruction of over 70% of communication infrastructure due to
>> > bombings by the Airforce and tanks.
>> >
>> > 2. Prevention of the entry of any diesel, leading to no electricity or
>> > power sources for essential communication services.
>> >
>> > 3. A political decision from Israeli officials, who control the
>> > international gateway of Palestine.
>> >
>> > *In the last 40 days, the ISOC community's position does not meet what
>> > is expected regarding this intentional shutdown, which violates the
>> ISOC
>> > objectives and vision. We urge.*
>> >
>> > On the other side, we are surprised to observe that some ISOC members
>> > and chapters support this internet shutdown and promote it on their
>> > official websites.
>> >
>> > Please note that we do not want to discuss the political issues behind
>> > this conflict, which started 75 years ago, as this is not a political
>> > platform.
>> >
>> > *Internet Society *
>> >
>> > *Palestine Chapter*
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
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>> Chapter Portal (AMS):
>> > https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login
>> > View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
>> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>> _______________________________________________
>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS):
>> https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login
>> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
>> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>>
> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS):
> https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login
> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>
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