Call for Proposals to Organize an Event for the Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2025 

7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media is excited to announce an open call for proposals to organize sessions and workshops at the Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2025 , taking place on May 20-21, 2025.

This year’s forum will center on the theme “Disconnected: The Impact of War on Internet Access and Palestinian Digital Rights.” As Gaza lies in rubble amidst genocidal violence, the forum will explore the harrowing consequences of war on digital rights, including the destruction of infrastructure, restricted access to information, censorship, and the silencing of Palestinian voices. The urgency of safeguarding digital rights, such as access to the internet, freedom of expression, and the right to information, has never been more pressing in this humanitarian crisis.

Access to the internet is increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right, integral to exercising other rights such as knowledge sharing, social networking, political organization, and economic engagement. Yet, in Gaza, the destruction of telecommunications infrastructure has left civilians isolated, unable to communicate, access critical information, or document the war crimes they endure. Over 75% of Gaza’s mobile infrastructure has been destroyed, while fiber optics backbones are severely compromised, leaving only a fraction operational. This disconnection has caused immense harm—preventing emergency response, blocking access to vital news, and contributing to psychological distress among those cut off from loved ones and rescue services. 

Palestinians have also faced an alarming increase in censorship and deplatforming by major online platforms. As the war escalated, these platforms silenced Palestinian journalists, citizens, and media outlets documenting firsthand violations, suppressing vital testimonies and obstructing global understanding of the crisis. Content moderation policies have further marginalized these voices, compounding the isolation of Palestinians and violating their digital rights. Economic opportunities reliant on digital platforms have also been crippled, with financial restrictions and deplatforming blocking donations and cutting lifelines for families dependent on aid.

The PDAF 2025 will provide a space to examine these critical issues and emphasize the essential role digital rights play in resilience, justice, and human dignity. Through workshops, sessions, and roundtable discussions, the forum aims to equip activists, organizations, and practitioners with tools to advocate for digital freedoms, rebuild infrastructure, and hold corporations accountable for content suppression and deplatforming. The discussions will also emphasize the importance of digital rights in documenting violations, amplifying marginalized voices, and connecting communities in times of crisis.

Let us come together to advocate for Palestinian digital rights and reaffirm connectivity as a fundamental human right, especially during times of war and systemic oppression.  

We invite you to submit your proposals via the form in the following link by 16.02.2025. 

7amleh will study the proposals and contact researchers and applicants whose proposals are accepted. 

For any inquiries, please write to the following email address: Forum@7amleh.org