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

Mon Nov 20 03:05:54 PST 2023

Thank you Christopher, yes you understood my question correctly. And I ask
it not as a representative of ISOC-IL but rather as a personal member of
the larger ISOC community. I hoped to benefit from the collective knowledge
of the group to find information that I have not been able to find myself.

Nina Mishraky | Global Outreach | Israel Internet Association ISOC-IL
Tel: +972-3-9700900
www.isoc.org.il

On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 12:05 PM Christopher Hawker <chris at thesysadmin.au>
wrote:

> 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> 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
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 3:13 AM Mike Godwin via Chapter-delegates <
> 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> 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"*
>
>
>
> 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/
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> *ד**"**ר אסף וינר | סמנכ**"**ל רגולציה ומדיניות | איגוד האינטרנט הישראלי*
>
> * Dr. Asaf Wiener | VP Regulation & Policy | Israel Internet Association
> ISOC-IL*
>
> *טל': 03-9700900  |  Tel: +972-3-9700900*
>
> 📧 *הירשמו לרשימות התפוצה המקצועיות שלנו
> <https://www.isoc.org.il/newsletter-updates>*
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/private/chapter-delegates/attachments/20231120/099b9e69/attachment.htm>