SUMMARY

In 2024, 7amleh supported 8,019 individuals through training, events, advocacy, and aiding in escalations of account violation cases. This included 5,002 people trained in digital security and advocacy, 1,200 participants at the eighth Palestine Digital Activism Forum (PDAF), and 850 engaged through webinars and public events. Additionally, 7or – the Palestinian Digital Rights Observatory – provided digital rights support to 967 beneficiaries.

7amleh collaborated with 51 international partners and numerous institutions, strengthening digital rights advocacy. Its research output expanded with 18 reports and position papers exposing censorship, surveillance, and AI-driven discrimination. Media coverage remained strong, with 173 mentions in major outlets such as The Guardian, CBC, Al Jazeera, and The Intercept. On social media, 7amleh reached 1.6 million people and generated 5.2 million video views.

Amid the war on Gaza, 7amleh played a critical role in documenting violations, advocating for accountability, and expanding the Violence Indicator to monitor Arabic-language incitement, reinforcing its mission to protect Palestinian digital rights.

7amleh By THE Numbers

124,800

Video Views on Social Media

39,467

Social Media Engagement

88

Digital Rights Violations Reported to 7or

120

Participants in Various Trainings

29

Palestinian Digital Activism Forum Attendees

14

Successfully secured, taken down, or restored

1

Organizational Assessments & Digital Advocacy Trainings

0

Publications

0

Campaigns

Research and Publications

In 2024, 7amleh’s reports generated knowledge and shed light on crucial and underreported aspects of Palestinian digital rights, exposing censorship, surveillance, violations of worker rights, destruction of IT infrastructure and more.


Hashtag Palestine 2023

“Hashtag Palestine 2023“ documented a total of 4,400 digital rights violations throughout the year 2023, with 69% of these occurring after the start of the war on Gaza.

Racism and Incitement Index 2023

“Racism and Incitement Index 2023” (video) shed light on the proliferation of hate speech and incitement to violence directed at Palestinian people and advocates for Palestinian rights on online platforms. The report documented 10 million instances of violent content throughout 2023.

Impacts of AI Technologies on Palestinian Lives and Narratives

In February, 7amleh published its position paper “Impacts of AI Technologies on Palestinian Lives and Narratives” shedding light on the alarming lack of oversight and regulatory frameworks surrounding AI deployment, emphasizing the dire consequences for Palestinians and Palestinian human rights advocates.

The Impact of X Platform’s Content Moderation Policies on Palestinian Digital Rights

In March, 7amleh published a position paper titled “The Impact of X Platform’s Content Moderation Policies on Palestinian Digital Rights.” The paper offers a comprehensive overview of the platform's role in shaping online discourse and its implications for Palestinian digital rights. It also provides critical analysis, backed by empirical data provided through 7or - the Palestinian Observatory of Digital Rights Violations offering insights into the platform's ineffectiveness at combating harmful content and fostering a healthy online environment. Through 7or - the Palestinian Observatory of Digital Rights Violations, 7amleh manually documented over 1,203 instances of such speech against Palestinians predominantly on X, in addition to other social media platforms.

Palestinian Digital Rights and the Extraterritorial Impact of the European Union’s Digital Services Act

In response to the European Union’s Digital Services Act, 7amleh published a new study titled “Palestinian Digital Rights and the Extraterritorial Impact of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA)” The study investigates the intricacies in the Israel/Palestine context and European Union (EU) legislation, particularly the Digital Services Act (DSA). It examines the negative and positive impacts of the DSA, notably regarding contexts of conflict and crisis, particularly after the start of the war on Gaza, whereby the DSA extends its influence globally and affects platforms' operations beyond EU borders. The study addresses discrimination and censorship concerns, as well as the violation of other rights within the EU, affecting both Palestinians and global advocates for Palestinian human rights.

Digital Advocacy and Privacy Protection Guides During Times of Crisis

Between October 2023 and February 2024, 7amleh responded to the urgent needs of Palestinian activists, human rights defenders, and civil society by publishing a series of guides focused on best advocacy practices, privacy protection, and digital security during crises. These guides aimed to safeguard Palestinian digital rights and promote fair, secure, and free digital spaces for all. They offered practical advocacy tools, tactics, and protective measures for safe online engagement amidst the ongoing targeting of Palestinian content through disinformation campaigns, incitement to violence, and other digital rights violations. In collaboration with a coalition of civil society organizations, 7amleh also contributed to the launch of "Gaza Media Resources," an open-source library that provides resources for activists, human rights defenders, civil society groups, and open-source fact-checkers. These resources cover key topics such as digital security, fact-checking, documenting human rights violations during war, and photography tips, further strengthening the capacity of Palestinian groups to navigate the digital landscape effectively during crises.

YouTube's Impact on Palestinian Digital Rights during the War on Gaza'

7amleh has repeatedly raised awareness about Palestinian digital rights on YouTube. In March 2024, the organization published a paper on YouTube’s impact on Palestinian digital rights during the war on Gaza highlighting problematic ads used for propaganda, YouTube's policies and discriminatory practices, issues with its compliance with international law, adherence to human rights due diligence, and its impact on Palestinian digital rights following the 7th of October.

Unravelling PayPal's Bias: Position Paper on Discrimination Against Palestinians

7amleh issued a position paper titled "Unravelling PayPal's Bias: Position Paper on Discrimination Against Palestinians," which criticizes PayPal's discriminatory policies that prevent Palestinians from using its services. The paper argues that these practices violate the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and key international human rights treaties. It also evaluates the readiness of the Palestinian digital economy to use online payment platforms, considering aspects such as infrastructure, skills, financial services, public platforms, and legal frameworks. In line with its commitment to advocate for Palestinian digital rights, 7amleh continues to promote the PayPal4Palestine petition urging PayPal to provide its services in Palestine.

Position Paper on the European Union’s AI Act and its Implications for Palestinian Digital Rights

The position paper examines the intricate relationship between the Palestinian-Israeli context and EU legislation, with a particular focus on the extraterritorial effects of these laws on Palestinian human rights. It details how the law impedes Palestinian human rights as well as the dangers posed by the use of AI on Palestinians. The position paper builds on previous research on the European Digital Services Act and its impact on Palestinians, as well as a position paper on the impact of AI on Palestinians.

Study on Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth in Light of the War on Gaza

“Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth: A Study on Threats and Challenges in Light of the War on Gaza” analyses the digital security landscape for Palestinian youth in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A key finding shows the lack of sufficient digital security skills and awareness among this demographic to address the risks posed by a complex system of violations. These violations are carried out by a combination of the Palestinian Authority, Israeli forces, and private tech companies such as Meta and X. The research offers concrete recommendations to increase and protect Palestinian digital rights.

Study on Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth Citizens of Israel

“Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth Citizens of Israel: A Study on Threats and Challenges in Light of the War on Gaza” complements the previous study on Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem analysing the dire digital security situation for Palestinian citizens of Israel during the Israeli war on Gaza. The findings highlight avoidance of online participation and activism due to fear of retaliation.

The War on Gaza: An Analytical Reading of the Consequences and Impacts on Digital Safety among Palestinian Youth

The position paper "The War on Gaza: An Analytical Reading of the Consequences and Impacts on Digital Safety among Palestinian Youth" analyses the effect of digital rights violations inflicted by Israeli government policies during the ongoing war on Gaza and concludes with a list of recommendations to ensure that digital platforms, especially during times of emergencies, remain a safe space for Palestinians. The paper’s findings were discussed in an open webinar on the 11th of September 2024 The speakers discussed the profound impact of Israeli policies in suppressing digital freedoms and enhancing censorship of Palestinian content, in addition to the challenges facing activists and human rights defenders in light of the recent war on Gaza. The discussion was live-streamed on 7amleh’s social media.

Palestinian Digital Rights, Genocide, and Big Tech Accountability

The report “Palestinian Digital Rights, Genocide, and Big Tech Accountability” analyses the extensive use of technology in committing and exacerbating human rights violations by Israeli forces as well as tech companies during the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Analysing the first year of the war on Gaza, the report details the interrelated roles played by Israeli deployment of warfare technology and social media companies’ use of censorship and repression. The publication was discussed in a webinar by the Palestinian Digital Rights Study Group (see below in International Advocacy section).

Gaza Telecommunications Infrastructure: Assessment to Damages and Humanitarian Impact

The report "Gaza Telecommunications Infrastructure: Assessment to Damages and Humanitarian Impact” analyses the humanitarian impact of the ongoing war on Gaza and specifically the destruction of a vital lifeline for Palestinians in catastrophic humanitarian conditions, its telecommunications infrastructure. 7amleh calls for urgent international intervention to stop the war and genocide and to contribute to rebuilding Gaza’s telecommunications sector, stressing that communication is a fundamental human right.

Delete the Issue: Tech Worker Testimonies on Palestinian Advocacy and Workplace Suppression

The report highlights the experiences of workplace repression faced by current and former Meta, Google and Cisco employees who advocated for Palestinian rights in different ways. This first of its kind report illustrates institutionalized and systematic suppression of the right to freedom of expression on digital rights. The publication of this research was further discussed in depth during the webinar “Palestine Advocacy and Tech Worker Suppression" which 7amleh organized together with the Tech Worker Coalition. It is available to view on Youtube

Intensification of Surveillance in East Jerusalem Since October 2023

The research “Intensification of Surveillance in East Jerusalem since October 2023” analyses the increasing surveillance of Palestinians in East Jerusalem following the onset of the war on Gaza in October 2023, and their impact on the civil and political rights of Palestinians. The report reveals that 65.3% of survey participants report that using social media posed a personal risk, and 70% self-censor on social media due to the fear of retribution.

Erased and Suppressed: Palestinian Testimonies of Meta's Censorship

7amleh published the report “Erased and Suppressed: Palestinian Testimonies of Meta's Censorship” detailing Meta’s censorship of Palestinian content based on victim testimonies. Furthermore, the report shines light on the double standards Palestinians face, with Meta deleting their content at staggering rates while failing to moderate violence and hate speech against them. One testimony illustrates this issue: “Meta deliberately deletes the content of my Instagram account all the time, as if it is deliberately erasing the truth and the Palestinian narrative by targeting us as individuals. This erasure made me feel deeply angry at the injustice I am subjected to, as anyone who tries to make the Palestinian voice heard is subjected to it as well. However, at the same time, it made me more determined to continue…” - Amna Khandakji, Journalist and content creator.

Monitoring

One of 7amleh’s core missions is to create evidence-based documentation of the state of Palestinian digital rights. Since 2021, we have used 7or - the Palestinian Digital Rights Observatory to monitor, track, and take action on rights violations against Palestinians that take place online. Throughout 2024, 7or documented a total of 3,576 instances of digital rights violations and censorship (797 cases of censorship, 2,779 cases of violent content), and has committed its resources to successfully securing and restoring accounts or pages, and removing violent content in 566 cases, with more cases still pending. 7amleh maintains a robust reporting framework, which includes weekly and monthly updates, along with comprehensive quarterly and annual reports. These reports serve as a reliable source of detailed information of ongoing and increasing digital rights violations.

7or informs 7amleh’s reports, as discussed above, including in “Hashtag Palestine 2023" and “Racism and Incitement Index 2023” in which we revealed that a sweeping majority (69%) of digital rights violations in 2023 took place after the start of the ongoing war on Gaza, and that we documented more than 10 million instances of violent content online in 2023.

In July, 7amleh launched the Violence Indicator for the Arabic language This complements the Hebrew language Violence Indicator that was launched previously as the first of its kind, both of which monitor the spread of hate speech and violence throughout social media platforms for each respective language.

Throughout 2024, we documented over one million violent posts in Arabic, and millions of posts in Hebrew. In addition to our monitoring and documentation efforts, 7amleh delivered 12 training sessions and participated in 20 sessions, events, and conferences, further strengthening awareness and advocacy for Palestinian digital rights. Moreover, we have provided customized analysis and data for other 7amleh departments and external organizations in joint projects, reinforcing our role as a leading research and advocacy center in the field of digital rights.

Advocacy

Our research and monitoring efforts inform our advocacy for Palestinian digital rights. Drawing on insights from reports and the 7or monitor, 7amleh has built strong coalitions in Palestine, Europe, and the U.S., becoming a leading voice in digital rights advocacy. We engage policymakers, intergovernmental organizations, and Big Tech to push for a safe and free online space for Palestinians. Our work has influenced policy, shaped special reports, and secured 7amleh’s role in key discussions on digital rights and freedom of expression.

International Advocacy

7amleh has actively engaged with international partners and organizations to advance digital rights and address critical issues. In collaboration with APC and IFEX 7amleh held the webinar “The Silencing Act: Journalism in Palestine” discussing how journalism is being silenced in Palestine. Following this event, 7amleh joined a coalition of 39 media freedom organizations in issuing a statement condemning the "collective official silence" of Media Freedom Coalition member states regarding the killings of journalists in Gaza. This joint statement highlights how such silence undermines global media freedom.

In May, 7amleh participated in NovAct's Seminar “Himaya” on the defense and protection of civic space against mass surveillance in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The seminar, which focused on addressing global surveillance and digital repression, featured 7amleh’s Advocacy Manager, Jalal AbuKhater, who detailed the extensive surveillance technology used by Israeli authorities against Palestinians and its implications for human rights.

In addition, 7amleh attended the IFEX General Assembly convening in Berlin as a member of the assembly. This event provided a platform to engage with international partners and organizations, allowing 7amleh to discuss the current state of Palestinian digital rights in Gaza. The convening also facilitated advocacy efforts leading to the release of an IFEX statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Furthermore, 7amleh launched a semi-regular webinar series, the “Palestinian Digital Rights Study Group”, through which the following webinars have been held: “What does US Congressional Efforts to Ban TikTok mean for Palestinian Digital Rights” on March 28, 2024 discussing the efforts to ban TikTok and their meaning; “Discriminatory Policies on Social Media Platforms in Times of War” on April 18, 2024 discussing the role of media during the ongoing genocide in Gaza; and “Big Tech and Genocide” discussing the publication of the research “Palestinian Digital Rights, Genocide, and Big Tech Accountability”

In March, 7amleh’s Advocacy Manager, Jalal AbuKhater, delivered a guest lecture at the Open Society University Network (OSUN) on Palestinian digital rights, highlighting Big Tech's violations and 7amleh’s leading role in addressing them.

In October, 7amleh in cooperation with Amnesty International and Makan held the event “Palestinian Digital Rights, Genocide and Big Tech Accountability” in London, discussing big tech’s complicity in digital rights violations of Palestinians (video available here).

Throughout 2024, 7amleh led the Palestinian Digital Rights Coalition (PDRC) in key initiatives, including regular meetings and sending letters to Meta, X, Telegram, and TikTok to address the proliferation of hate speech, dehumanization, and incitement to violence and genocide against Palestinians on their platforms - in light of the International Court of Justice’s South Africa vs. Israel case. The coalition also engaged in UN submissions and contributed to discussions on digital rights and genocide. Notably, key coalition members came together to publish a joint statement condemning the U.S. Congressional efforts to ban TikTok, and condemning the unjust blocking of Palestinian Skype and Emails accounts by Microsoft. By blocking its services, Microsoft effectively cut Palestinians off from social, professional, and financial opportunities during a time of immense suffering and devastation.

In October, 7amleh participated in the Global Gathering 2024 - a three day gathering of digital rights networks from all over the world, which offered an unparalleled opportunity for 7amleh to engage with leading voices in digital rights, security, and advocacy. 7amleh’s participation centered around sharing their expertise, engaging in meaningful discussions, and exploring new partnerships that align with their digital rights advocacy and support for human rights defenders from around the world and in the MENA region.

Also in October, 7amleh led a webinar, co-organized with APC and IFEX, with the special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Ms. Irene Khan titled “The Genocide in Gaza: Its Impact on Freedom of Expression Worldwide”. The webinar discussed the annual report to the UN General Assembly on the impact of the war on Gaza and freedom of expression globally. In her report, the Special Rapporteur calls on States, social media companies and other private actors to reject double standards on human rights and makes concrete recommendations to uphold the right to freedom of opinion and expression equally for all. The webinar discussed the main findings of the report, as well as its recommendations and actions needed for implementation.

In October 2024, 7amleh participated in a DMIS panel on AI biases in digital media. Zeina AbuSitteh, 7amleh’s Communication Lead, highlighted AI’s biases, its role in censorship and surveillance, and its impact on Palestinians, particularly through Meta’s content moderation and Israel’s military use of AI. The discussion sparked interest in reshaping AI narratives in the MENA region for justice and inclusivity, with AbuSitteh stressing the need for transparency, human rights impact assessments, and ethical AI development to protect marginalized communities.

In November, 7amleh led in a joint letter on the targeting and killing of journalists in Palestine and Lebanon through the IFEX network. The letter called for the protection of journalists and the right to press freedom. At the time, nobody had called for joint action on this issue, and thus the letter received a high level of engagement in a very short time period with over 40 signatories.

In October, 7amleh was invited to participate in a conference on the ‘Right to Access Information” by the al-Najah University in Nablus in the North of the West Bank. 7amleh’s perspective uniquely highlighted the role of online presences and online platforms in relation to the basic human right of access to information.

On International Human Rights Day, December 10, 7amleh participated in Birzeit University Center for Continuing Education’s Symposium “The Challenge of Protecting Rights in the Age of AI” discussing the impact of AI on daily life.

Finally, in December, 7amleh’s Executive Director Nadim Nashif participated in the IGF session “Protecting Internet infrastructure and general access during times of crisis and conflict” upon an invitation from APC. The session explored existing guidelines, norms, principles, or agreements that safeguard Internet access and stability during times of crisis and conflict, including the roles of various stakeholders. Nashif illustrated the Israeli government’s control over and destruction of communications infrastructure in Gaza, by stating,. "The deliberate stifling of Gaza’s telecom capabilities has left it unprepared to withstand the destruction caused by the recent war."

United Nations

7amleh attended the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Numerous meetings with special mandates and rapporteurs were held to discuss Palestinian Digital Rights such as the mandate on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. More than 50 people attended 7amleh’s hybrid side-event, “Tech Giants and Genocide: Exploring Complicity in Digital Spaces” in person. Throughout its engagement with United Nations bodies, 7amleh has and continues to engage with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, which has directly resulted in a UN Special Rapporteur report to the UN General Assembly.

This report, “Global threats to freedom of expression arising from the conflict in Gaza - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression” was presented to the UN General Assembly in New York and included: Freedom of expression also under fire in Gaza war, rights expert says | UN News Freedom of expression in a global crisis, says UN expert | OHCHR

European Union

7amleh’s EU Advocacy Officer, Taysir Mathlouthi, took part in a session on EU-level advocacy and strategy, focusing on the Digital Services Act (DSA). The session explored how the DSA could be leveraged by civil society organizations and examined its potential negative impacts on Palestinian digital rights. This discussion was part of Privacy International’s convening held in June. The event also provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships with existing organizations and to collaborate with new partners on upcoming projects.

Business and Human Rights Forum

7amleh joined the Business and Human Rights Forum (BHR) in Geneva. The 13th annual BHR Forum was held over three days, from the 25th to the 27th of November 2024, where participants took part in over 29 sessions to discuss current business-related human rights issues under the overall theme of “Realizing the Smart Mix of Measures” to protect human rights in the context of business activities (see here for Forum’s concept note, and here for forum’s full program).

7amleh also co-organized a main session at the Forum with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. The session, titled “Addressing Racism Online: A Smart Mix of Measures for Rights-Respecting Content Moderation”, took place in the main plenary room of the UN Palais des Nations’s Human Rights Council and Forum on BHR.

During the Forum, 7amleh engaged with key stakeholders and partners to advance human rights in the private sector and protect digital rights. They also discussed upcoming report themes with UN Special Rapporteurs and explored areas for collaboration.

Technology Companies | META

Throughout 2024, 7amleh actively engaged with Meta on critical issues of digital censorship affecting Palestinian content. On February 11th 2024, 7amleh led a coalition of 73 international organizations in issuing a statement demanding that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms which was followed by the launch of the “Tell Meta: We Need to Talk About Genocide” campaign. This campaign, supported by 73 other organizations, mobilized 52,000+ signatures on Action Network, advocating against Meta's censorship practices.

During Meta’s annual general meeting, 7amleh led a digital day of action, highlighting its petition as well as through increasing social media attention to Meta’s ongoing discrimination of Palestinians. The action was picked up by the Guardian in the article “Rights groups urge Meta shareholders to end pro-Palestinian content ‘censorship’” (May 29, 2024). 7amleh’s Executive Director Nadim Nashif was quoted in the piece “This problem has been going on for at least a decade, and we have not been seeing any real improvement – the policies are the same [....] We have seen in the recent conflict that it is getting worse, and we need to try other strategies, including shareholder engagement.”

Furthermore, in October, 7amleh led the MENA coalition in drafting and sending a letter endorsed by the MENA Alliance for Digital Rights, to Meta, in response to their most recent Human Rights Due Diligence update. In response to this, 7amleh received a letter from Meta’s Director of Human Rights Policy outlining their standpoint as well as an invitation to discuss the issues in depth in a meeting. Meetings with the Mena Alliance for Digital Rights are being held on a monthly basis.

Campaigns

In January 2024, 7amleh successfully launched the "Know Your Digital Rights" campaign (in Arabic), which aimed to raise awareness about digital rights issues among the Palestinian community. Throughout the campaign period, engaging educational cards were regularly shared across 7amleh's social media channels, providing valuable information and insights into digital rights topics. Additionally, an impactful awareness-raising video was produced and published, further amplifying the campaign's messages.

In February, 7amleh launched a new campaign aimed at enhancing the protection and awareness of digital rights for children and parents in Palestinian communities (in Arabic), particularly those at risk. The campaign included various social media cards and an educational video on the topic presented by a local figure.

Despite ongoing efforts, significant challenges remain in amplifying Palestinian voices within digital spaces. Campaigns like “Meta, Let Palestine Speak!!” highlight the urgent need for equitable content moderation practices on Meta’s platforms. Continued advocacy is essential to dismantle the systemic biases that silence Palestinian narratives and ensure that all users can express their opinions freely and safely.

Similarly, the discriminatory practices of PayPal severely limit Palestinian’s access to essential digital financial services, reflecting broader issues of inequality. While users in Israel and illegal settlements receive full access, Palestinians in the occupied territory are denied service, exacerbating economic disparities and stifling opportunities for entrepreneurship. The ongoing campaign, "PayPal4Palestine" calls for urgent reform to ensure equal access to digital financial services for all, regardless of national or ethnic origin.

In August, an 11-day digital security awareness raising campaign (in Arabic) was launched. The widespread campaign targeting youth, educators, parents, and community stakeholders in the West Bank and East Jerusalem included a video and reached a total of 1,462,350 individuals.

Also in August, 7amleh ran a campaign in Arabic focusing on digital security for parents and educators, and their role in supporting the digital security of children and youth. This campaign continued in November, focusing on how parents can support their children’s digital safety through parental control.

In August, 7amleh launched the "Precaution Prevents Blackmail" campaign to raise awareness about online blackmail targeting Palestinian women and girls. Highlighting that 1 in 6 women have faced such threats, the campaign addressed legal challenges due to fragmented authorities and shared 20 key precautions to enhance digital security and prevent blackmail. In October, 7amleh launched an awareness raising campaign focusing specifically on surveillance in East Jerusalem.

Capacity Building

Empowering Palestinians to take action to protect their digital rights against violations when possible and advocate for their safety and security is another core tenet of 7amleh’s work. Throughout 2024, 7amleh continued its extensive training programs and workshops centered on Digital Rights, Security, and Digital Advocacy. A total of 5,002 participants, including university and school students directly benefited from the training/workshop.

Training of Trainers (ToT)

In 2024, 7amleh organized multiple ToT workshops, equipping 84 participants with digital security skills. A July workshop trained 16 parents and educators on device protection, secure browsing, and social media privacy, while a November session expanded community expertise with 23 participants. These initiatives strengthen digital security awareness in Palestinian communities, empowering individuals to protect personal data and educate others.

Organizational Assessments and Trainings on Digital Security and Advocacy

In 2024, 7amleh conducted assessments of digital security and advocacy needs of 40 Palestinian organizations. Based on these assessments, 7amleh provided specialized training and support tailored to each organization’s specific needs.

Organizational Trainings

7amleh provided digital security, advocacy, and risk management training for 40 organizations, reaching 73 participants in Ramallah and Jerusalem. 7amleh also assessed 10 West Bank media outlets, offering action plans and support grants to enhance digital rights protection and advocacy. Additionally, a workshop on digital security and privacy protection was held for 20 organizational participants.

Digital Security Training for Youth, Organizations, Parents, and Teachers

In 2024, 7amleh trained 281 youth, parents, and educators in digital security, covering cyber risks, safe browsing, encryption, and online rights. These sessions equipped participants with practical tools to protect their data and strengthen digital privacy and advocacy.

Students

In 2024, 7amleh conducted a digital security training program for school and university students, equipping 3,912 students with essential skills to protect their data and navigate the digital landscape safely. The sessions addressed the growing need for digital literacy, covering data protection, secure communication, and practical security measures to enhance online safety.

Targeted Digital Advocacy and Gender-Sensitive Workshops

Between January and September 2024, 7amleh trained 208 educators, youth human rights defenders, and CSO representatives on digital rights. The sessions were tailored to each group's needs, with participants highlighting increased awareness and practical skills in digital security. Additionally, 100 parents and teachers received training on gender-sensitive digital security to better support children and youth in navigating online spaces safely.

Advanced Advocacy Training Series

In 2024, 7amleh conducted four advanced advocacy training sessions, equipping 285 participants with digital advocacy skills and AI integration in activism. The sessions focused on effective messaging, digital tools, and AI-driven strategies to strengthen advocacy efforts among activists and NGOs.

Digital Security Helpdesk

7amleh continues operating the digital security helpdesk providing digital security rapid response to Palestinian CSOs, media, activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and influencers. The helpdesk provides digital security preventative and responsive support for Palestinian organizations and individuals to counteract the increasing digital attacks and violations in times of crisis since the beginning of the war on Gaza. By providing one-to-one help and support for victims of digital rights violations, through personalized digital security tips and recommendations, as well as follow-up support for digital security threats and attacks, the helpdesk offers comprehensive guidance on security practices and threat mitigation for organizations, groups, and individuals.

Learning Platforms | Areeda

In December, 7amleh launched the digital activism platform ‘Areeda’ which is a powerful digital tool designed specifically for advocacy efforts. It enables individuals and organizations to create and share petitions and email storms, serving as a dynamic tool for promoting social change. Areeda empowers human rights organizations, activists, and advocates to mobilize support for causes, raising awareness and driving positive change locally, regionally, and internationally. Through this platform, users can generate petitions and email campaigns to amplify their voices, influence public opinion, and push for justice, freedom, and the right to self-determination. Its innovative tools make it an invaluable asset for those fighting for social justice and human rights.

Learning Platforms | Digital Security

In late January 2024, 7amleh launched the “Digital Security” platform, an educational guidance platform designed in the Arabic language, to constitute a source of specialized educational and training guides in the field of digital security. The platform contains advanced and updated training materials and provides its users with detailed technical guides and explanations through illustrated educational videos. The platform has so far had over 14,000 active users benefitting from it and its educational materials.

Learning Platforms | Manassa

The Manassa e-learning platform, a key initiative for 7amleh, has grown significantly since its launch in March 2024, now registering 2,148 users. Serving as a vital resource for digital education and advocacy, the platform expanded its offerings with two major courses. The Digital Advocacy Course provides participants with essential tools for effective online advocacy, covering social media strategies and the use of Areeda, 7amleh’s petition platform. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Course introduces learners to AI fundamentals, including machine learning and ethical considerations. With up to 50 new users joining every month, Manassa continues to meet the increasing demand for accessible digital education, empowering individuals across various sectors.

Manuals

Towards the end of 2024, 7amleh created a manual on digital advocacy to be featured on a digital organizing platform for the Arabic speaking region. The manual will go along with an e-course and provide skills in digital advocacy.

Palestine Digital
Activism Forum

The Palestine Digital Activism Forum (PDAF) 2024 was a landmark two-day event attended by over 1,200 participants from around the world. As the first digital rights forum in the Arab Region with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly in times of war, PDAF featured 70 international expert speakers and collaborated with 51 partner organizations globally, achieving high reach and significant online interaction.

Despite being an online event held in times of war, participants engaged in critical active discussions and learning sessions in an open space, generating ideas and proposals to ensure that AI development aligns with human rights standards, guaranteeing a safe, fair, and free digital space for everyone.

The first day included diverse policy and dialogue sessions that illuminated the state of Palestinian digital rights in the era of AI, especially during the escalating war on Gaza. These sessions addressed various issues facing Palestinian digital rights, the multifaceted impacts of AI, and how AI can be leveraged for advocacy, community benefit, and social change.

The second day provided 14 capacity-building and awareness-raising workshops, each attracting nearly 60 participants. These workshops were exceptionally engaging, and underscored the relevance and impact of the event’s discussions and activities. The robust participation highlighted the importance of the topics covered, and the need for continued focus on artificial intelligence’s revolutionary promises and discriminatory realities in the context of Palestinian digital rights.

Recordings of the sessions are available through a public YouTube playlist to be accessed at any time from all over the world.

7amleh in the Media

Media

Throughout 2024, 7amleh was mentioned or cited in the news a total of 173 times in Arabic and English, including publications such as The Guardian, CBC, Al Jazeera, APC, and The Intercept. These mentions reflect 7amleh’s growing influence in shaping global conversations on Palestinian digital rights.

The New Arab Article (August 21, 2024) highlights 7amleh’s research "Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth: A Study on Threats and Challenges in Light of the War on Gaza".

In the article “YouTube’s Rulings on Gaza War Videos Spark Internal Backlash“ (July 2, 2024) in Wired, Eric Sype, 7amleh’s US national organizer is quoted, saying “We have firsthand experience of YouTube and Google employees telling us that videos clearly inciting violence and racism against Palestinians do not violate the companies’ policies, while educational videos posted by Palestinian creators have to be age restricted, label as graphic, or simply just taken down”. The report directly draws on 7amleh’s publication "Youtube's Impact on Palestinian Digital Rights during the War on Gaza". Additionally, 7amleh’s staff have authored several op-eds addressing the intersection of technology and Palestinian rights, shedding light on digital repression and AI-driven censorship

Taysir Mathlouthi, 7amleh’s EU Advocacy Officer, published an op-ed in the Middle East Eye titled, “War on Gaza: European AI Act must be expanded to protect Palestinians” which discusses the urgent need for regulatory safeguards against AI-driven biases that disproportionately impact Palestinian digital spaces.

Eric Sype, 7amleh’s US National Organizer, published an op-ed in The New Arab titled, “Big Tech terror: For Palestinians, AI apocalypse is already here” which explores how AI-driven algorithms and biased moderation policies exacerbate digital censorship against Palestinians, referencing 7amleh’s ongoing advocacy efforts. Sype published a second op-ed in The New Arab’s titled “US TikTok ban is an attack on Palestinian digital rights” which highlights concerns about digital sovereignty and how restrictions on platforms like TikTok could further silence Palestinian voices online.

Social Media

7amleh’s digital engagement reached unprecedented levels in 2024, effectively engaging over 1.6 million individuals across its social media platforms. With over 5.2 million total video views, 7amleh amplified its advocacy and awareness efforts, bringing critical issues to a global audience. The organization also saw a 9.85% increase in followers on several platforms, further expanding its reach and strengthening its digital advocacy network.

Through strategic media outreach, data-driven research, and impactful social media campaigns, 7amleh continues to be a leading force in the fight for Palestinian digital rights, ensuring global visibility and awareness of ongoing digital suppression and censorship.