The continued military assaults carried out by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip have not only resulted in the loss of numerous lives, but also in the deliberate targeting of professionals and enterprises within the technology sector. According to a report by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, the Israeli army has systematically aimed at technology experts, particularly those with expertise in programming, computer engineering, and artificial intelligence. This has led to the destruction of businesses and infrastructure, as well as the depletion of valuable talent in the region.
Prominent figures within the technology sector, such as programming engineer Haitham Muhammad Al-Nabahin and Tariq Thabet, the director of UCAS Technology Incubator Programs, have directly perished in the Israeli assaults. The obliteration of these enterprises and the deaths of experts have had a profound impact on the capacity of the Gaza Strip to innovate and excel in the technological field, which is essential for the region’s economic development.
Prior to the assaults, around 65 businesses in various technological domains operated in the Gaza Strip, providing employment to thousands of young individuals and recent graduates. The devastating consequences of the Israeli military assaults have led to the near-total destruction of programming and IT company headquarters, harm to six business incubators, and the closure of all technology centres affiliated with Gaza Strip universities. The deliberate targeting of the technology sector has disrupted the ability of enterprises to carry on operating and innovating in a crucial sector that serves as the foundation for other economic activities and digital transformation.
The obliteration of the technology sector in Gaza is not only a loss for the local community, but also for the broader scientific and economic advancement of the region. The deliberate targeting of experts and the destruction of enterprises have caused widespread apprehension and coercion among those who remain, compelling them to contemplate emigration as a means of survival.
These actions by the Israeli army not only contravene international humanitarian law, but also constitute war crimes and severe violations under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The systematic targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the intentional destruction of enterprises and the loss of valuable talent, will have enduring repercussions for the Gaza Strip.
The repercussions of these military assaults extend beyond the immediate loss of life and infrastructure, and pose a substantial threat to the scientific, educational, and economic framework of the region. The calculated targeting of the technology sector and the depletion of highly qualified individuals will have far-reaching implications for the ability of the Gaza Strip to recuperate and rebuild in the aftermath of these devastating assaults.
It is imperative for the international community to hold the Israeli army accountable for these actions and to support the Gaza Strip in its endeavors to rebuild and recuperate from the devastation caused by the ongoing military assaults. The deliberate targeting of experts and enterprises in the technology sector is a loss not only for the local community, but for the broader development of the region.
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