It was a challenging task to connect with Farida Adel in Gaza, as it took more than 20 minutes and eight dropped WhatsApp calls. The internet service in the territory is unreliable, even in the co-working space in the city of Deir Al-Balah where she works remotely alongside 50 others.
Adel, an English teacher, divides her time between teaching for free in a tent and translating documents from Arabic to English at a makeshift workspace in a cafe. She spends six hours a day completing assignments from Upwork, earning $200 a month after fees from the platform and currency exchange companies.
The blockade imposed by Israel for 17 years has limited economic opportunities in Gaza, leading at least 12,000 workers to turn to online freelance work. The recent bombardment by Israel has further decimated job opportunities, making it difficult for freelancers to find stable internet and electricity. Safety concerns also loom large, as workers like Adel face the constant fear of airstrikes.
Despite the challenges, freelancers like Adel and Waleed Iky continue to work through the dangers. Iky, an entrepreneur, doesn’t always disclose his location in Gaza to potential clients to avoid any negative impacts on his business. He, too, faces disruptions to his work due to the unstable environment in Gaza.
For many freelancers, working in Gaza means taking risks and facing uncertainties daily. The struggle to access reliable internet, electricity, and safety is a constant battle for these workers, but they persevere in the face of adversity to continue earning a living. Bank branches and ATMs have been destroyed, PayPal has stopped providing services to Palestinians in occupied territories, and currency exchange shops charge fees ranging from 15 to 30% based on demand. Iky, one of the lucky few with a bank account, often chooses to wait to withdraw money to avoid paying high fees.
Unstable internet and airstrikes
Iky is among over 1,300 freelancers and students who have utilized Hope Hub’s flexible workspaces in Gaza, Egypt, and Lebanon since its launch in January 2024 by Salah Ahmad and Fady Issawi. Hope Hub, which is free to use and operates in timed shifts due to limited resources, was one of the first co-working spaces to open during the war.
Ahmad, who had been working with freelancers since 2020, was forced to leave behind his workspace after it was destroyed by airstrikes. He then started Hope Hub in a refugee camp, aiming to help people restart their companies or find ways to distract themselves from the ongoing conflict.
Despite challenges like unstable internet and limited electricity, Hope Hub has expanded to multiple locations in Gaza. However, ongoing invasions and destruction continue to pose threats to its operations.
“My right as a student is to complete my studies”
Students like Othman Shbier face obstacles in completing their education due to the conflict. Shbier walks for hours to reach Hope Hub, the only place where he can take classes online. Many students in Gaza lack access to co-working spaces and resort to makeshift solutions like street internet hotspots to continue their studies.
Despite uncertainties about graduation, employment, and safety, students like Shbier and Aya Esam remain determined to complete their studies and pursue their dreams in the midst of adversity in Gaza. Solía tener un sueño sobre mi futuro. Para la generación futura de posibles científicos de la computación, médicos y freelancers, las aspiraciones han sido reemplazadas por preocupaciones sobre de dónde obtendrán su próxima comida, dijo Adel. Para muchos de los 50 estudiantes que se amontonan en la carpa de educación que ha instalado, aprender inglés es una cuestión de supervivencia. Quieren poder apelar a personas en el extranjero para enviar comida o donar dinero, dijo. Aun así, no me rindo. “A pesar de todo, wallah, sigo encontrando formas de inspirar esperanza y resistencia no solo para mí, sino también para la comunidad que me rodea”, dijo Adel. “Enseñaremos al mundo lo que significa la resistencia.”