Israel destroys Gaza's telecommunications sector, causing losses exceeding $700 million.

Huda Al-Wahidi, Undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, said that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip caused widespread devastation to the telecommunications sector, destroying approximately 74% of its assets.

In a speech delivered at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Board of Directors meeting in Geneva, Al-Wahidi explained that the direct losses incurred by the sector amount to approximately $164 million, due to the destruction of 580 cell towers and major fiber networks.

The Ministry of Communications added in a statement that expected economic losses over the next five years could reach $736 million, given the massive destruction and the need to rebuild infrastructure.

Al-Wahidi warned of the continued deterioration of Gaza's digital infrastructure, stressing that the Strip is experiencing an "unprecedented crisis" that has caused widespread disruption to communications services.

She criticized the absence of any practical steps to implement UN Resolution 1424 of 2024, which concerns the reconstruction of the Palestinian telecommunications sector.

She called on the Federation Council to develop an urgent implementation plan to implement the decision, calling for the protection of the digital infrastructure from Israeli targeting, which has almost completely destroyed the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Al-Wahidi indicated that Israeli military incursions and closures caused losses estimated at $215.4 million.

She added, "In addition to the illegal expansion of Israeli networks, which has disrupted Palestinian development and expansion projects."

The ITU Board of Directors approved Palestinian proposals, including the preparation of an implementation plan within one month and the submission of a progress report every six months.

The Union decided to hold an international donors' conference and establish a special financial support fund for Palestine, classifying the telecommunications sector as an essential humanitarian service.

He also recommended enabling Palestine to access the radio spectrum and provide 4G and 5G technologies, as well as ensuring the supply of fuel and equipment to communications and power stations, and protecting technical crews after the martyrdom of more than 150 technicians during the aggression.

Since October 7, 2023, Palestinian telecommunications companies have repeatedly announced widespread service outages within the Gaza Strip due to bombing and fuel shortages.