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Guardian

Guardian

‘We have no choice’: Gazan workers find a lifeline in freelancing amid war

Guardian
Summary
Nutrition label

75% Informative

At least 12,000 workers in Gaza have turned to online freelance work for income, UN says.

Israel ’s 17-year land and sea blockade of Gaza has long limited economic opportunities within the strip.

Gaza 's infrastructure has been decimated, making the two resources freelancers depend on a strong internet connection and reliable electricity hard to come by.

More than 1,300 freelancers and students have used Hope Hub’s flexible workspaces across Gaza , Egypt and now Lebanon since January 2024 .

Salah Ahmad was forced to leave his life and his dreams behind after 7 October .

Ahmad was displaced four times before he finally reached Rafah, which he and others were told would be a safe area.

He and his co-founder Fady Issawi started Hope Hub with five people working out of a tent.

Othman Shbier was supposed to graduate with a computer science degree from IUG last year .

But classes were put on hold for months .

He now walks two hours to get to Hope Hub , where he takes classes online.