Paltel engineers criss-cross the enclave to reinstate service in neighbourhoods plunged into blackouts for days and even weeks
Workers risk their lives to restore Gaza’s phone networkSince the war began, 50 engineers and technicians at Paltel, one of two Palestinian cell service providers in Gaza, have criss-crossed the enclave to reinstate service in neighbourhoods that have been plunged into blackouts for days and even weeks.Paltel – which is dependent on three telecommunication lines that pass through Israel – operates infrastructure in Gaza.
A Paltel executive and the Palestinian Authority’s telecommunications ministry blame most of the poor connectivity on air strikes and on bulldozed roads, causing damage to infrastructure above and below ground. In mid-December, members of a Paltel team found themselves in the middle of the fighting. They were trying to reconnect a cable underwater in a crater in the southern city of Khan Younis when clashes between the Israeli military and militants erupted, said Kamel Amsy , an engineer on the team. Overcome with fear, they lay flat on the ground as bullets flew overhead.
Asked later about the event, the Israeli army said it had given Paltel technicians permission to work in the area, but later told them not to come because of “operational activity” there. It said the army was not aware of tank fire directed at the technicians, whom it said were not a target. The Israeli army said it was investigating the incident. Cogat, the Israeli agency responsible for liaising with Palestinians, confirmed that Paltel had co-ordinated the movements of Abu Hajjaj and Rayes with it.
Eyhab Esbaih, a senior official in the telecommunications ministry, said discussions were continuing with Israel through international interlocutors about bringing in equipment. Like Fares, he said Israel had not yet allowed such items in. “It was incredibly demeaning,” Amsy said. “You’re trying to do your job, but you receive no respect.”
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