Conclusion of the Study Day in Jerusalem on Freedom of Expression and Digital Security During Crises and Wars

October 1, 2025, 7amleh – The Arab Center for The Advancement of Social Media, held the first-ever study day in Jerusalem on Monday, titled “Freedom of Expression and Digital Security During Crises and Wars.” The event brought together over one hundred journalists, activists, civil society representatives, and local residents, providing a platform to discuss the laws, policies, and practices that restrict Palestinians’ freedoms in both the digital sphere and daily life in Jerusalem.

Participants examined challenges in the digital space during wars and crises, the rise of digital gender-based violence under exceptional circumstances, and emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence to privacy and data protection. The program opened with a welcoming speech by Mahdi Kurzum, Project Coordinator at 7amleh, followed by a presentation from Hala Taha, Monitoring and Documentation Coordinator at 7amleh, who shared findings from two of 7amleh’s studies: “Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth: A Study on Threats and Challenges in Light of the War on Gaza"  and "Intensification of Surveillance in East Jerusalem Since October 2023." 

The first session, “Challenges to Freedom of Expression in the Digital Space During Wars and Crises,” featured lawyer Hadeel Abu Saleh from Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, who addressed the legal dimensions of restrictions on freedom of expression. Dr. Munir Nusseibeh, Director of the Al-Quds Human Rights Clinic, highlighted the realities and legal challenges faced in Jerusalem. Jalal Abu Khater, Policy Manager at 7amleh, discussed the impact of social media platform policies on Palestinian discourse. The session was moderated by Jerusalem researcher Hanadi Adama.

The second session, dedicated to “Digital Gender-Based Violence During Crisis and Wars,” featured contributions from Sama Aweida, Director of the Women’s Studies Centre in East Jerusalem, Ohaila Shomar, General Director of the Sawa Foundation, and researcher Afnan Kanaaneh, author of “War and Digital Shadows: Palestinian Women Between Voice Confiscation and Body Exposure in the Digital Space,” who presented the study’s findings.

In addition, three parallel workshops on digital security were held: one for journalists and activists, another exploring gender-related dimensions, and a third for parents and teachers. Each workshop fostered practical discussions on strengthening digital security and resisting digital control.

Discussions underscored that escalating laws and measures targeting Palestinians - from barring activists and pursuing institutions, to criminalizing online information sharing and imposing restrictions on financial rights - pose a direct threat to freedom of expression. Practical solutions were also proposed to counter these practices and promote safer platforms, ensuring that the Palestinian narrative remains visible in the digital space.

This study day marked an important step in building collective awareness of digital security and freedom of expression in Jerusalem, and it opened the door for community and institutional collaboration to address the growing challenges in this field.