Huda Al-Wahidi, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy in Palestine, revealed that Israeli military actions have caused devastating damage to Gaza’s telecommunications sector, destroying approximately 74% of its assets. Speaking at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Board of Directors meeting in Geneva, Al-Wahidi stated that direct losses amount to $164 million, with 580 cellular towers and major fiber networks destroyed.
The Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications estimates the broader economic impact could reach $736 million over the next five years. Al-Wahidi warned of an ongoing unprecedented crisis worsening Gaza’s digital infrastructure, causing severe disruptions in telecommunications services.
She criticized the lack of implementation of UN Resolution 1424 (2014), which calls for reconstruction of Palestinian telecom infrastructure, urging the ITU Council to urgently develop and execute an action plan. She emphasized the need to protect digital infrastructure from continued Israeli targeting, which has nearly wiped out Gaza’s telecommunications capabilities.
In the West Bank, Israeli military incursions and closures have inflicted estimated losses of $215.4 million. Al-Wahidi also condemned the illegal expansion of Israeli networks, which obstruct Palestinian telecom development and expansion.
Since October 7, 2023, Palestinian telecom companies have reported repeated service outages in Gaza due to ongoing shelling and fuel shortages.
