Humanitarian workers and journalists have said the operation of communication networks in Gaza is essential for rescue services and for documenting the reality of conditions on the ground to the outside world. Just 15 minutes later, Samir and his brother were killed in an Israeli air raid on their building.

Samir*, one of the staff members killed, had spent 10 hours shuttling fuel between data towers before returning home. An engineer working on the Sheikh Radwan data centre in Gaza City two weeks ago At least five PalTel staff members in Gaza have been killed in Israeli attacks while many other staff members have lost family members, including wives and children. The cost of keeping Gaza connected has been high. … I do this every day,” he said.Īhmad’s tale has become almost routine among the 750 PalTel staff in Gaza who, despite living through bombing, displacement and death, risk life and limb to keep the telecoms network running.

“Thank God my family was OK and I lived to see another day. He decided to stay in the building until dawn, slipping out around the freshly fallen debris to go home during a lull in Israeli bombing. By 2am, he had repaired the generator, allowing the telecommunications network to keep operating. We are no better nor less important than medical staff – a phone call can save lives,” Ahmad said.

“I told the driver that if I could not restore the generator, people like him wouldn’t be able to reach injured civilians. Keep reading list of 4 items list 1 of 4 UNICEF: Lack of basic necessities threatening lives of thousands in Gaza list 2 of 4 Is Israel’s Gaza War the most destructive yet with conventional weapons? list 3 of 4 US targets Houthi funding network following attacks on commercial ships list 4 of 4 Photos: Death and devastation in Gaza after two months of Israel-Hamas war end of list

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