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

Mon Nov 20 02:02:51 PST 2023

I send this e-mail in my personal capacity, and not that of a Chapter Delegate.

With all due respect, I don’t believe it is the place of one chapter to “expect” another to align themselves with a particular view. Each and every chapter is entitled to their beliefs and views, and this is in essence one of the key values of an internet that is for everyone. They can have their own beliefs and views, as is their right to free speech.

My understanding of Nina’s e-mail is that they were asking if a similar event to the one that is currently taking place between Israel and Palestine has ever occurred, and if so, what was done to protect civilian infrastructure whilst also dismantling terrorist infrastructure and that ISOC should consider such events (if any) before issuing a statement. I do not believe that this question is politically motivated and that it is simply asking “if this has happened before, what was done during previous situations” and recommending that any results be taken into consideration.

Regards,
Christopher Hawker

From: Chapter-delegates <chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org> On Behalf Of ISOC Palestine via Chapter-delegates
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2023 8:37 PM
To: Mike Godwin <mnemonic at gmail.com>; Nina Mishraky <nina.mi at isoc.org.il>
Cc: chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Internet Shutdown in Gaza : Request for ISOC's Position

Dear Nina,

As mentioned in our statement, this is not a political platform to discuss a conflict that began 75 years ago. We are committed to ISOC's vision: "Internet for Everyone." We expect you to align with this vision and explicitly state your opposition to using the internet as a tool of war.

Regards,
ISOC-Palestine

On Monday, 20 November 2023 at 10:45:46 GMT+2, Nina Mishraky via Chapter-delegates <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org<mailto:chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>> wrote:

As this is a community with people from all over the world who have extensive experience and knowledge in matters of internet, I am curious to hear if anyone has a historical answer to this:

Has there ever been such a situation as the one in Gaza, where the ruling entity used points of civilian infrastructure (hospitals, office buildings, water/electric/internet infrastructure, even private homes under the beds of children) to hide their stores of weapons, their militants, and enemy hostages (as in the case publicized yesterday of the hostages taken to Shifa Hospital and killed there)?

If there has been a similar situation, what was able to be done to protect civilian infrastructure while also uprooting the terrorist infrastructure?
I think this needs to be taken into account before ISOC issues any kind of broad denouncement of internet disruptions.

Nina Mishraky | Global Outreach | Israel Internet Association ISOC-IL
Tel: +972-3-9700900
www.isoc.org.il<http://www.isoc.org.il/>
[https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wbHBcIp02bEeqnZ3Y-LGCYvbvzDLwsOz7djjqNurL4hfoAaLN68EEbKO7ibSnIf1dYqXn75SM]

On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 3:13 AM Mike Godwin via Chapter-delegates <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org<mailto:chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>> wrote:
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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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*
>
>
>
>
>
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...................................................................
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......................................
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