7amleh 2025 mid-year Report

Summary

The first half of 2025 unfolded under the shadow of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where the deliberate targeting of telecommunications infrastructure and repeated attacks on journalists and media outlets have turned connectivity and information into weapons of war. In this context, 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media continued to defend Palestinian digital rights through research, monitoring, advocacy, campaigns, capacity building, and global mobilization.

7amleh published four major reports, including Hashtag Palestine 2024 and the Racism and Incitement Index, documenting systemic censorship, AI weaponization, and over 12 million violent posts against Palestinians. Through 7or - the Palestinian Digital Rights Observatory, 7amleh recorded 1,454 violations in just six months, while restoring accounts and removing violent content. At RightsCon 2025, 7amleh launched the global #ReconnectGaza campaign, affirming communication as a fundamental human right, while also pressing Meta, Google, and Microsoft to end discriminatory practices.

On the ground, 7amleh trained 1,844 people in digital security, hosted a 360-person digital security conference, and brought together over 900 participants and 69 speakers for the Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2025 (PDAF). With more than 11.8 million social media views, 33,300 interactions, and 173,000 website visits, 7amleh has amplified Palestinian voices worldwide, ensuring that in times of war and repression, Palestinians are not silenced - online or offline.

Our Impact in Numbers

Real results from our sustainable initiatives

Digital Rights Violations reported to 7or

Secured, erased and restored accounts

Views on social media

Interaction on Social Media

Palestinian Digital Activism Forum Attendees

Organisational Assessments & Trainings on Digital Safety

Participants in various trainings

Publications

Research and Publications

Throughout the first half of 2025 7amleh released a number of publications addressing Palestinian digital rights:

Digital Divide

The research “Digital Divide: Discrimination in Digital Infrastructure Against Palestinian Citizens in Israel” focuses on the obvious discrimination in internet and digital infrastructure for Palestinian citizens within Israel. It reveals a severe lack of fair and equal access to this infrastructure for Palestinians, in particular in unrecognized villages. Nadim Nashif, Director of 7amleh, stated: “This report reveals a dangerous aspect of the systemic discrimination faced by Palestinian citizens in Israel. As in many areas of life, the digital sphere is also plagued by inequality that hinders progress in education, healthcare, and employment. In today’s digital age, access to high-speed, quality internet is essential for performing daily tasks—whether it’s working, managing banking transactions, engaging in remote learning, or obtaining health information. This report aims to expose these unjust policies and shed light on their impact, in order to pressure decision-makers who promote narratives of inclusive and equitable digital policies, while the reality tells a very different story.”

Digital Safety of Palestinian Children in East Jerusalem

7amleh released the research “Digital Safety of Palestinian Children in East Jerusalem: Between Violations and Digital Agency”, which analyses the digital rights situation for children in East Jerusalem, given its distinct political and geographical context. The report found that the actual and perceived intense surveillance by Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem is resulting in self-censorship, and highlights the responsibility of all actors to uphold digital rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

Hashtag Palestine 2024

7amleh released the annual report “Hashtag Palestine 2024”, which documents the repercussions of the 15-month Israeli war on Gaza and recorded violations of Palestinian digital rights. The report highlights Israel’s weaponization of artificial intelligence tools like Lavender and Habsora, the destruction of 75% of Gaza’s internet and communication infrastructure, and the censorship of Palestinian content by major platforms, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and the protection of Palestinian digital spaces.

Racism and Incitement Index 2024

7amleh released its annual “Racism and Incitement Index 2024”, documenting over 12 million violent posts against Palestinians on digital platforms-an average of 23.6 violent posts every minute. The report further exposes 9,289 posts in which Israeli users celebrated the killing of Palestinians in airstrikes, reflecting the normalization of digital violence and racism. The publication reached over 265,000 people across 7amleh’s channels highlighting its role in exposing systemic digital hate against Palestinians.

Monitoring

7or—the Palestinian Digital Rights Observatory

7or—the Palestinian Digital Rights Observatory has continued to document and analyze digital rights violations of Palestinians. Throughout the first half of 2025, 7or documented a total of 1,454 instances of digital rights violations and censorship (231 cases of censorship, 1174 cases of violent content, 3 cases of digital economy platform violations), and has committed its resources to successfully securing and restoring accounts or pages, and removing violent content in 205 cases, with more cases still pending.

7amleh maintains a robust reporting framework, which includes weekly and monthly updates, along with comprehensive mid-year and annual reports. These reports serve as a reliable source of detailed information of ongoing and increasing digital rights violations. As part of this monitoring framework, flagship reports such as “Hashtag Palestine 2024” and the “Racism and Incitement Index 2024” provide in-depth annual analysis, while 7or continues to track violations in real time through its Arabic and Hebrew violence indicator.

7amleh also strengthened its monitoring and accountability work through its participation at RightsCon 2025, where it joined the Network for Trusted Partners and the Coalition for Independent Technology Research. These partnerships enhance 7amleh’s role as a trusted monitoring body and reinforce collective advocacy for transparent and rights-based social media governance.

Advocacy

Local Advocacy

7amleh continues to advocate with the Palestinian authority, civil society, and telecommunications companies to defend digital rights. At the Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2025 (PDAF), a representative from Ooredoo joined a session on Gaza’s telecommunications crisis, underscoring that connectivity is a lifeline, not a luxury.

In April, together with Palestinian civil society in Israel, 7amleh called on the Israeli government to end its attacks on human rights organizations and highlighted the shrinking of civic space. In June, as part of the #ReconnectGaza campaign, 7amleh urged the international community to treat Gaza’s repeated internet and telecommunications blackouts as a critical emergency, stressing that restoring connectivity is essential for civilians, medics, aid workers, journalists, and families.

7amleh also continued coordination with Palestinian human rights organizations, jointly condemning violations of digital rights and press freedom at the start of the year. In the face of escalating repression, 7amleh emphasized the need to safeguard free expression, guarantee access to information, and hold perpetrators accountable. Throughout the year, 7amleh also monitored developments around the Palestinian Authority’s Cybercrime Law and provided digital security trainings upon request.

International Advocacy

In May, 7amleh participated in the panel “Cyber Surveillance and Data Violence in Palestine: Protection, Practice, and Legality” at the CPDP conference in Belgium. The discussion examined AI-driven surveillance in the occupied Palestinian territory, its role in systematic rights restrictions, and the complicity of social media platforms in enabling digital control and data violence, concluding with an assessment based in international law.

At RightsCon 2025 in Taipei, 7amleh launched the global campaign #ReconnectGaza, demanding the restoration of Gaza’s destroyed telecommunications infrastructure and affirming communication as a fundamental human right. Alongside the campaign, 7amleh hosted sessions on Big Tech’s role in genocide and gender-based AI discrimination, and contributed to multiple panels on censorship, freedom of expression, and AI bias. By engaging partners at the Community Village, 7amleh strengthened international alliances and amplified Palestinian voices in digital governance spaces.

Earlier in March, 7amleh, in partnership with Makan, organized the webinar “Reconnecting Gaza, Empowering the Future” to present findings from its research on the destruction of Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure and its humanitarian impact.

United Nations

In February 2025, 7amleh’s EU Advocacy Officer participated in the AI Action Summit in Paris, organized by the UN Human Rights B-Tech Project with international partners. The officer also joined a high-level OECD session on “Shaping the Future of AI Governance”, where 7amleh emphasized the negative impact of weaponization of AI in conflict settings and stressed the urgent need for rights-based approaches, particularly in Global Majority and conflict-affected contexts.

European Union

In April 2025, 7amleh’s EU Advocacy Officer participated in Les Assises pour la Palestine in Paris, a key convening that brought together French and international speakers to strengthen advocacy strategies across EU states. 7amleh hosted a booth to raise visibility among diverse audiences and joined a panel addressing the systemic silencing of Palestinian voices online.

Later that month, 7amleh took part in the Oxford Information and Media Leadership Programme (InfoLead), presenting on Big Tech’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza and highlighted how content moderation, algorithmic bias, and the weaponization of AI contribute to the dehumanization of Palestinians, while calling for stronger accountability, transparency, and enforcement of digital rights.

In May, during World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) hosted by UNESCO, 7amleh engaged in panels on information manipulation, AI governance, and freedom of expression in conflict zones. These contributions placed Palestinian digital rights at the center of global debates on media integrity and ethical governance of emerging technologies.

During June, 7amleh joined high-level, closed-door convenings in Brussels, hosted by the Global Network Initiative (GNI) and the Digital Trust and Safety Partnership (DTSP). The discussions examined risk assessments under the EU Digital Services Act and the UK Online Safety Act. 7amleh emphasized the importance of frameworks that uphold freedom of expression, protect marginalized communities, and ensure that civil society voices from conflict-affected regions are included in global digital policy conversations.

Technology Companies

Google

Throughout 2025, 7amleh held monthly meetings with Google to discuss the impact of changes in the US administration on digital rights, as well as the implications of emerging AI technologies. At RightsCon 2025, 7amleh also engaged with Google’s human rights team to further these discussions.

Other Companies

In response to reported issues on Bluesky, 7amleh promoted its 7or observatory and established direct contact with the platform’s small team, ensuring users could report problems through 7amleh.

In partnership with MPowerChange, 7amleh also called on Microsoft to stop censoring workers’ speech on Palestine and Gaza, condemning the company’s discriminatory internal practices.

Campaigns

PayPal, Meta & EU Censorship

7amleh’s campaigns targeting PayPal and Meta remain ongoing. In 2025, 7amleh also launched a mini-campaign on the censorship of Palestinian voices in the EU, collecting testimonies from users who faced takedowns, shadow-banning, or suspensions on Instagram and Facebook. The campaign was promoted on social media and through 7amleh’s mailing list, reaching 14,857 English-speaking users.

#ReconnectGaza

In collaboration with the Palestinian Digital Rights Coalition and dozens of international partners, 7amleh launched #ReconnectGaza, a global campaign demanding the rebuilding of Gaza’s destroyed telecommunications network and affirming communication as a fundamental human right. With 75% of infrastructure damaged and 50% destroyed, the blackout has blocked healthcare coordination, education, and access to the digital economy.

The campaign was launched internationally at RightsCon 2025 in Taipei, in a session that drew nearly 100 attendees - well beyond capacity-and featured speakers from Internet Society, Human Rights Watch, and Access Now. Journalists from The Intercept and The New York Times attended, helping amplify the campaign’s reach.

In March, 7amleh and Makan co-hosted the webinar “Reconnecting Gaza, Empowering the Future”, reaching over 1,000 people and widely reshared online. To date, 62 organizations have endorsed the campaign, including MPowerChange, Access Now, SMEX, Article 19, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, and the European Legal Support Center. Across 7amleh’s platforms, the campaign has reached 25,139 people and engaged 9,609 individuals.

Capacity Building

7amleh continues to strengthen the digital resilience of Palestinians through assessments, trainings, conferences, and rapid-response support. Its work with women and youth was also highlighted in a blog post by APC.

Organizational Assessments and Trainings

In the first half of 2025, 7amleh conducted 15 organizational digital security assessments, tailoring capacity-building sessions to identified needs. Two additional specialized trainings were delivered upon request.

Digital Security Training for Students and Youth

A total of 1,583 Palestinian students and youth in East Jerusalem and the West Bank were trained in digital security skills, equipping them to navigate an increasingly digital and hostile environment.

Creating Safe Digital Spaces for Students in Jiser Al-Zarqa School

On 12 February 2025, 7amleh organized a six-hour digital security workshop at Jiser Al-Zarqa School, reaching dozens of students and staff in this coastal, underserved community. The training combined hands-on exercises, storytelling, and visuals, focusing on cyberbullying, privacy, and online well-being - issues that directly affect students’ daily digital lives on social media and messaging platforms.

Led by trainer Alaa Mohammad, the workshop gave students practical tools to take control of their online presence. One high school participant reflected: “I used to think privacy just meant having a password. I didn’t know I could control who sees my photos or sends me messages. For the first time, I feel like I actually have control over my accounts.”

Teachers and administrators emphasized the urgency of such trainings, noting the psychological and social pressures their students face online. The success of the session has already led the school to request follow-up workshops for parents, recognizing the shared responsibility of protecting children’s digital rights both at home and in the classroom.

Digital Security Training for Parents and Teachers

Between January and June, 111 parents and 82 teachers in Jerusalem received training to better support young people in safe and informed digital practices.

From Worried Parent to Digital Guardian: Rania’s Story

Rania, a mother of two teenagers, used to feel anxious about her children’s online lives. She had heard of scams, cyberbullying, and privacy risks but didn’t know how to protect them. “I knew they were on their phones a lot,” she recalls, “but I didn’t even know where to start.”

After attending a 7amleh digital security workshop, Rania’s perspective shifted. She learned practical skills like creating strong passwords, using privacy settings, enabling two-factor authentication, and spotting scams and online bullying. “It was like a light turned on in my head,” she says.

Back home, Rania applied what she learned with her children - checking app settings, updating passwords, and opening conversations about online safety. Her confidence grew, and her kids began to listen and trust her advice. “They could see I wasn’t just guessing anymore. We had real conversations about the internet.”

Today, Rania calls herself a digital guardian and shares her knowledge with other parents. “Every parent should take this workshop,” she says. “It’s about teaching our kids to be smart and safe online.”

Training of Trainers

7amleh trained 12 new digital security trainers (8 male, 4 female), expanding the pool of qualified experts able to deliver specialized digital security education across Palestine.

“M “Who would want to hack me?!” - Ahmad’s Journey

When Ahmad, a computer science student, first heard about digital security, he laughed it off: “I’m not a politician or activist-who’d want to hack me?!” He reused the same password everywhere and clicked on suspicious links without a second thought.

That changed after he attended a 7amleh workshop. Hearing real stories of hacks and seeing examples that mirrored his own experiences made him realize how vulnerable he was. Alarmed, Ahmad began changing his habits-updating passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and deleting unsafe apps.

Over time, Ahmad not only secured his own accounts but also began helping others, including a journalist friend whose Instagram was hacked. His growing expertise and commitment led 7amleh to invite him to become a trainer.

Today, Ahmad is a digital security trainer at 7amleh, empowering youth, journalists, and activists to protect themselves online. “I used to think digital security was pointless,” he says, “but I’ve learned that one small mistake can change your life - and a little bit of awareness can protect it.”

Digital Security Education Conference

On 6 January 2025, 7amleh organized a major Digital Security Education Conference at the Arab American University in Ramallah under the theme “Digital Rights of Palestinians During War: Implications for Digital Security and Privacy.” The event brought together 360 participants and 20 expert speakers, including academics, human rights defenders, and digital security specialists. Discussions addressed AI-driven surveillance and censorship, the impact of war-related restrictions on Palestinian youth, digital gender-based violence, and the protection of children online. Real-life cases and testimonies were shared, alongside legal, technical, and human rights perspectives, culminating in concrete recommendations for policymakers, technology companies, educators, and communities to enhance digital safety and resilience.

Digital Security Helpdesk

7amleh’s helpdesk continues to provide rapid-response support to civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, and activists. Reported threats included phishing, spear-phishing, online harassment, and sexual extortion. The helpdesk offered tailored responses such as forensic scans, reporting malicious activity to platforms, restoring suspended accounts, and connecting victims with legal assistance. This service remains a cornerstone of 7amleh’s work, ensuring immediate and practical protection for those targeted by digital rights violations.

Palestinian Digital Activism Forum (PDAF) 2025

PDAF 2025

PDAF 2025 was held amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where the deliberate destruction of telecommunications and critical infrastructure has severely restricted communication and access to information. The forum gathered over 900 participants from around the world, reflecting the urgent international recognition of the need to defend digital rights and to expose the deliberate targeting of communications infrastructure as a war crime that demands accountability.

The program featured 69 international and local speakers and 50 global partners, including Gazan journalists Hind Khoudary and Nour Swirki, who reported directly from Gaza despite extreme conditions. Their testimonies, along with contributions from global voices such as Naomi Klein, Marc Owen Jones, and Ibtihal Abu Alsaad, enriched the debates and framed digital rights within broader political, social, and academic contexts. Speakers from Gaza also joined the second-day workshops, ensuring vital local perspectives despite communication barriers.

PDAF 2025 became both a platform to bear witness and to act. From the silencing of Palestinian voices online to the deliberate targeting of connectivity on the ground, participants engaged with the devastating implications of cutting off an entire population from the digital world. The strong turnout and active engagement reaffirmed that access to infrastructure and communication is inseparable from the broader struggle for justice, survival, and freedom. Every session - from exposing the weaponization of communication blackouts and digital platforms, censorship, and to exploring grassroots strategies for resilience - was a refusal to let Gaza disappear from the world’s screens and conscience. PDAF 2025 made clear that in times of genocide, digital presence is a lifeline, and global advocacy is a duty.

7amleh in the Media

30+

News Articles

10+

Media Interviews

Press Releases

Media Partners

Throughout the first half of 2025, 7amleh significantly expanded its media presence and reach across local, regional, and international platforms. The organization was cited in over 30 online news articles, featured in more than 10 interviews on media outlets' social media accounts, and participated in several live radio and television broadcasts.

To amplify its advocacy, 7amleh issued seven Arabic and English press releases highlighting major activities and publications. These releases generated coverage in outlets such as:

RayaFM Wattan Al Jazeera MC Doualiya APC IFEX

And others. A 7amleh report was also featured by the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (NGO Action News – UN.org) and Palestine's Legal Scene – Law for Palestine, demonstrating its reach across both media and policy platforms.

In addition, 7amleh partnered with 11 media agencies, influencers, journalists, and activists specifically for the Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2025 (PDAF), and carried out over 100 collaborations with influencers and human rights organizations throughout the first half of 2025 as part of its campaigns and social media outreach.

This media outreach supported 7amleh's broader advocacy agenda. Appearances and coverage helped raise awareness of the weaponization of artificial intelligence, systematic censorship on Meta, digital blackouts in Gaza, racism and incitement online, and the discrimination in digital infrastructure against Palestinian citizens of Israel, bringing these urgent issues into global conversations.

Across social media, 7amleh's content achieved 11.8 million views, reflecting wide visibility and reach, while generating 33,300 interactions - meaningful engagement through likes, shares, comments, and clicks. This balance between reach and interaction demonstrates both the scale of 7amleh's online presence and the active involvement of its audience in amplifying Palestinian digital rights issues.