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

[Dave Burstein]

Speaking for myself, I believe it essential for the ISOC Board, which is
ultimately responsible for our policy, *to take a stand on the Palestinian
Chapter petition this week.*

There is no reason a quorum of the board can't be assembled in a couple of
days. This literally is a matter of life and death.

Not taking a strong, clear stand is accepting the status quo. If our board
believes the Palestinian request should not be accepted, we should say so
publicly. We should not bury our heads in the sand and hope the issue will
disappear.

How can those who believe ISOC should be a multi-stakeholder organization
have a strong role in this decision?

The Internet should be for everyone.

Dave Burstein
Board Member, ISOC NY



On Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 12:59 PM Nazar Nicholas via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> Dear Mike,
>
> The position of ISOC on Internet about shutdowns or restrictions is known
> BUT in thing as big as Israel- Hamas war where ordinary people in Gaza are
> caught in the conflict; I really MUST invite ISOC to release a statement of
> condemnation to reinforce its stand on Internet shutdowns or restrictions.
>
> Nazarius aka Nazar
>
> On Sun, 19 Nov 2023 at 18:48 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
>>> > 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/
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/
>>
> --
> *Nazar Nicholas Kirama*
> President& Chief Executive Officer
> Internet Society Tanzania Chapter (ISOC-Tz)
> *...................................................................*
> *National Coordinator *
> *Tanzania Internet Governance Forum (TzIGF)*
> *......................................*
> *"Internet i**s for Everyone"*
>
> ICT Consultant & Trainer
> IEEE Member#96674695
> Certified Business Coach (ICF)
>
> T:+255 784 220 877 | +255 748 282 888
> E:nnicholaski at gmail.com <E%3Annicholaski at gmail.com>
>
> *Professional Affiliations: **||IEEE: Membership#96674695**||ICANN|| Web
> Foundation|| IGF|| Article 19Foundation||**Entrepreneurs Wealth Academy||
> Tanzania Federation of Green Revolution|| AFRINIC Advocate*
> ______________________________________________
> *Clubs/Associations Affiliation: Founder Member of Roots&Shoots-**The Dr.
> Jane Goodall's Global Youth Program, **member @PMA,IMA WSPCA, WCST, **The
> Internet Society**,**International Coaching Federation.*
> ______________________________________
> *Joshua1:8 @**Haggai 2:8 **@Deuteronomy 8:17-18*
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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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