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

Sun Nov 19 17:12:36 PST 2023

I'm sure Dr. Wiener did not mean to suggest that we here are unaware of
what Hamas has done, or to suggest that those who disagree with him are
unaware of what counts as "collateral damage."

Given the unimaginable anguish of so many victims and their families, I'm
similarly certain that he did not mean to include the word "simplistically"
in such a categorical way regarding those who disagree on whether Internet
Society should speak publicly on an immediate question of internet
shutdowns. History suggests (to me at least) that expressing principled
support of a precise, relevant statement regarding a particular internet
shutdown--regardless of the intentions of those who implement it--is
something we shouldn't be timid about.

In this regard, I also find it is helpful to consider "the principle of
charity" before posting in response to comments regarding a highly painful
and emotionally fraught question, as this issue necessarily has been.
Today, for example, I consulted this helpful Wikipedia entry before
choosing to respond with this message. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_charity for my reference.

I hope this response reads as civil and respectful, and I apologize in
advance if it does not, despite my efforts. In any case, I likely have
nothing further to add here and so will remain silent on this going forward.

I thank you all for your patience, and, regardless of what ISOC does, let
us continue to find common ground in favor of peace and against the
destruction and torment of innocents.

Mike Godwin

On Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 2:22 PM Asaf Wiener via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> Dear ISOC community and Chapter Delegates,
>
> As we extend our deepest sympathies to all innocent civilians affected, we
> urge the ISOC community and Chapter Delegates to approach this issue with a
> heightened sense of responsibility and discernment
>
> ISOC's Shutdown-Statement
> <https://pulse.internetsociety.org/shutdown-statement> and Policy
> Briefings
> <https://www.internetsociety.org/policybriefs/internet-shutdowns/> define
> Internet Shutdown as a "disproportional reaction that often only hides –
> instead of solving – a perceived problem, and can result in significant
> collateral damage". The horrors that Hamas unleashed on October 7 surpass
> anything Israel and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict have ever seen. In
> only one day, with remarkable organization and precision, Hamas and
> Palestinian militants from Gaza slaughtered, raped, and mutilated
> <https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/10/30/morgue-burial-israel-hamas-attack-pkg-sidner-lead-vpx.cnn>
> at least 1,200 people (including women, babies and the elderly), severely
> injured over 4,500, and abducted more than 240 hostages
> <https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bynldsc11p>, almost all of them
> civilians, including people with disabilities, chronic diseases,
> children, grandparents and even a 9-month-old baby
> <https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/09/world/middleeast/hamas-hostages-israel-gaza.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare>
> .
>
> With this context in mind, the professional community and the Internet
> Society cannot simplistically address the Gaza Internet disruptions as an
> “Internet Shutdown”, which fails to capture the full scope of the crisis,
> both in factual accuracy and in acknowledging the depth of the humanitarian
> impacts which are far beyond Internet access issues.  As a matter of
> facts, recent data
> <https://ioda.inetintel.cc.gatech.edu/region/1226?from=1695999414&until=1699973814>
> shows only temporary disruptions, in parallel to the ongoing physical
> warfare to retrieve the hundreds of hostages taken from Israel to Gaza
> which are still completely cut off from the Red Cross
> <https://www.who.int/news/item/25-10-2023-who-calls-for-immediate-release--access-to--and-medical-support-for-hostages-taken-by-hamas>
> .
>
> Sincerely, and with hope for better days for all in our troubled region,
>
> ISOC-IL Team
>
> (More information for the International Internet community is available
> here <https://en.isoc.org.il/about/news-room>)
>
>
> ‫בתאריך יום א׳, 19 בנוב׳ 2023 ב-19:59 מאת ‪Nazar Nicholas via
> Chapter-delegates‬‏ <‪chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org‬‏>:‬
>
>> 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"*
>>
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>>
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>>
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>> ______________________________________________
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>> ______________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS):
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>> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
>> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>>
>
>
> --
> *ד"ר אסף וינר | סמנכ"ל רגולציה ומדיניות | איגוד האינטרנט הישראלי*
> * Dr. Asaf Wiener** | VP Regulation & Policy** | *
> *Israel Internet Association ISOC-IL*
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>
> _______________________________________________
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> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS):
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>
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