How one activist restored internet and telephone connectivity to a disconnected Gaza
Mirna El Helbawi, a compassionate activist, bravely connects with Gaza’s trapped families during a communication blackout Her efforts to restore internet and phone connectivity go viral, symbolizing the triumph of humanity in dire circumstances
Mirna El Helbawi is seated on a Cairo rooftop, her face aglow in the moonlight as she holds a phone in her hands. She is texting a distressed father whose wife and children are stuck in Gaza.
"Right now, I don't want anything else from this world," he writes to her in Arabic. "All I want is to be able to speak to them, even if it's just for the last time, to be able to say goodbye."
El Helbawi, more than 200 miles away, cant shield his family from the Israeli missiles raining down. But she can provide them with the chance to say one more "I love you."
Mirna El Helbawi
Mirna El Helbawi
The founder of Connecting Gaza, an Egyptian writer and activist, has spearheaded a grassroots initiative using eSIMs to help Palestinians bypass telecommunication blackouts during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Along with a dedicated group of volunteers and support from international donors, El Helbawi has successfully restored phone and internet connections for over 200,000 Palestinians and is committed to continuing these efforts until the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas comes to an end.
El Helbawi, 31, told CNN that access to telephone and internet is a fundamental human right, just as crucial as food and water. She emphasized that without the ability to communicate, Palestinian civilians caught in conflict cannot check on each other or call for help, and emergency and medical workers are unable to coordinate their responses. Additionally, journalists cannot document atrocities on the ground, potentially including war crimes. El Helbawi expressed concern that those enduring the pain of conflict cannot share their grief with the world or call for a ceasefire, and instead have to endure attacks in silence.
"Its like being murdered while someone is putting a hand over your mouth, so you cant even scream for help."
Gaza falls silent
Since October 7, El Helbawi, like millions of others, has been anxiously following the unfolding war. This began after Hamas launched an aggressive attack in Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 240 others.
In response, Israel enforced a blockade and carried out deadly airstrikes throughout Gaza, causing extensive destruction to homes, schools, and hospitals in the densely populated area. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, approximately 15,200 Palestinians, with 70% being women and children, have been killed, and 40,000 others have been injured in the attacks. These numbers come from sources within Hamas-run Gaza.
Almost immediately, telecommunications services were disrupted. Israel cut off electricity to the territory, and service providers reported that the bombardment had destroyed vital network infrastructure. Despite this, some Palestinians were still able to make telephone calls and access the internet, although the connection was sporadic.
Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza after being hit by Israeli airstrikes on December 2, 2023.
John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images
El Helbawi had been closely monitoring the news for weeks, feeling heartbroken at the images and videos on social media showing entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, doctors struggling to treat patients without medicine, and parents mourning the loss of their children. Then, on October 27, as Israel prepared to expand its ground operations, Gaza fell silent.
"We apologize to inform you that all communication and internet services to the Gaza Strip have been completely disrupted due to the ongoing aggression," stated Paltel, the top telecommunication company in the Palestinian territories. This was the first of several blackouts to hit Gaza. El Helbawi, fearing that the blackout could conceal "war crimes," was determined to find a solution.
She initially joined others on social media platform X to urge Elon Musk to bring his Starlink satellite internet service to Gaza, and was thrilled when Musk agreed. However, when discussions on the plans came to a halt, El Helbawi decided to pursue an alternative approach.
Upon the recommendation of a social media follower, she bought an eSIM with roaming service and had a friend attempt to connect to a foreign network. Much to her surprise, it was successful.
"I felt it in every fiber of my being the instant we realized there was a glimmer of hope - even if it was faint - that we had found a solution," El Helbawi expressed. "It was like seeing a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel."
In less than a day, she took to X and Instagram to reach out to her followers, asking for those willing to help restore telephone and internet services for Palestinians to contribute by purchasing eSIMs online and sending her the QR codes. El Helbawi was optimistic that she could locate individuals in Gaza with connectivity to distribute the eSIMs across the region.
Giving voice to victims
As El Helbawi began executing her plan, Ahmed Elmadhoun was in Gaza struggling with how to report on the war without telephone or internet service.
As one of the rare journalists at the scene, Elmadhoun believed it was his duty to keep the global community updated on the latest developments by sharing images and videos of the aftermath on social media.
"It's a weighty responsibility," stated Elmadhoun, aged 27, in an interview with CNN. "People are suffering in silence here, and their voices go unheard. We are the advocates for all of these victims."
Journalist Ahmed Elmadhoun was the first person in Gaza who El Helbawi helped reconnect to the internet through an eSIM.
Courtesy Ahmed Elmadhoun
He also worried about his family, who were displaced throughout Gaza and could not be reached. More than 40 of his relatives were killed in airstrikes, Elmadhoun says.
"Gaza was a place of extreme isolation and fear. We felt completely alone," he recounted. "We had no way to contact our families or check on their well-being, and the airstrikes were relentless. Even the emergency teams and ambulances couldn't locate the bombing sites or reach the injured."
Despite the overwhelming fear, Elmadhoun found a way to access the internet using an Israeli SIM card before it was shut down. During that brief window, he posted on X, asking: "Can someone tell me about an eSIM - who knows about it?"
Shortly after, El Helbawi noticed the question and eagerly replied, "Me! Me! Me! Please send me an urgent message."
Quickly, El Helbawi provided Elmadhoun with an eSIM QR code and assisted in reconnecting him to the internet, making him the first person in Gaza to obtain one.
At that moment, Connecting Gaza was born.
The solution goes viral
The initiative's news rapidly circulated on social media, prompting people from around the globe to purchase and donate eSIMs. Donors from countries such as the United States, Switzerland, Pakistan, and the Netherlands have sent QR codes to support the cause, according to El Helbawi. Many of them use mobile apps like Simly and Airalo to monitor the activation of the eSIMs and to recharge them when necessary.
Graeme Bradley, a donor hailing from Scotland, was attracted to the initiative for its ability to make a significant impact on a conflict where countless lives are in jeopardy.
"It's truly disturbing to witness the immense destruction and loss of innocent lives among civilians trapped in an occupied region with nowhere to turn," remarked the 38-year-old Bradley in an interview with CNN. "They have nowhere to flee to."
He aims to empower Palestinians by assisting them in sharing their experiences, with the goal of influencing public opinion and urging global leaders to demand a ceasefire.
However, not all eSIM recipients survive to share their stories.
Palestinians struggle to charge and use their mobile phones amid electricity cuts and telecommunication blackouts across Gaza.
Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/Getty Images
Noha Elkomi, a 25-year-old donor from Egypt, eagerly monitored her app as a Palestinian beneficiary activated the eSIM she had donated. However, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the eSIM became inactive.
Elkomi recalled sharing her concerns with El Helbawi, who responded, "You never know what happens."
Elkomi understood the gravity of the situation, realizing that the first one who took it might be gone or even killed. "This is the harsh reality. Every minute counts and you don't know how long they are staying," she said.
The eSIM can only be activated once and may become inactive in areas with weak signal in Gaza. Elkomi expressed a mixture of hope and concern, imagining the experiences of the person using the eSIM and feeling a personal connection to them.
Elkomi was disappointed when the first eSIM she donated lost signal, but she remained determined to keep giving. Her eyes filled with tears days later as her second eSIM connected someone in Gaza, showing that Palestinians always find a way to overcome obstacles and thrive. "They find a way to go around it, climb on top of it, or break through it," Elkomi said. "There's always light shining through the darkness."
This is humanity
El Helbawi admits shes obsessed with Connecting Gaza. Its the first thing she thinks about in the morning and the last thing at night.
"We hardly get any sleep because connecting eSIMs is our top priority in life," she expressed. "Even though I believe I'm making a significant impact in Gaza, I can't shake the feeling that we still aren't doing sufficient."
Approximately $1.3 million worth of eSIMs have been donated to Connecting Gaza for distribution so far, as reported by El Helbawi. The initiative, which previously collaborated with Simly, facilitates over 1,000 Palestinians daily. According to her, each individual can transform their phone into a hotspot for up to five others.
Gaza's connectivity initiative, Connecting Gaza, has achieved great success. El Helbawi has recently used her increasing social media influence to establish a non-profit organization, Connecting Humanity, with the aim of reconnecting disadvantaged individuals in other conflict areas.
According to El Helbawi, "The eSIMs are not inexpensive. The fact that numerous individuals are dedicating their time and resources to assist speaks volumes about the global support for Palestine. Some individuals donate eSIMs and then wait for their next paychecks to send more, all in an effort to save lives. This is a demonstration of humanity."
El Helbawi stands at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt with a Palestinian flag draped across her back.
Mirna El Helbawi
The war has undergone significant changes since the initial blackout. While there was a brief period of peace with some hostages being released and more aid entering Gaza, the violence has since resumed. Over a million Palestinians are still displaced, with their homes destroyed and limited access to essential resources such as healthcare, food, clean water, and electricity. They are also unable to escape the ongoing conflict.
The sense of loss and loneliness experienced by Palestinians is made worse by the frequent power outages, Elmadhoun explains. "What's going on in Gaza is a tragedy. There's nowhere safe... and we feel abandoned."
However, El Helbawi, along with numerous supporters worldwide, is determined not to let Palestinians endure their suffering in silence.
"We are sending a message to Palestinians," she said. "We do not stand for this. We will not let you lose your connection with the world."
