Plain English Edit: by Noemí Martínez Turull
Disabled people around the world are raising money to send eSIMs to Gaza. Gaza is a region in Palestine. People from Palestine are called Palestinians. Palestinians in Gaza need them to access the Internet because Israeli attacks have destroyed local Internet towers. They cannot get many basic needs like food, water, and communication. We are trying to help them stay connected.
We are raising funds to send eSIMs to people in Gaza. More than 160 volunteers are helping to buy and send these eSIMs to those who need them in Gaza.
Donate now: bit.ly/eSimsRUs
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a special kind of SIM card that lets you access the internet on your phone. A regular SIM card is a small chip on your phone. You can use it to connect to Wi-Fi, just like you would with cellular data. eSIMs come in different sizes, and each one lasts for a certain amount of time.
What Is an eSIM Top-up?
A top-up is extra data you can add to an eSIM once it’s activated. We buy smaller eSIMs first, then add data when needed. This is sometimes called add-on.
Why Are eSIMs Needed?
The Israeli army destroyed local Internet towers in Gaza and have messed with Internet networks.
Having no internet means they can’t communicate with others about what is going on. They also can’t contact others in the rest of the world. Palestinians in Gaza can’t get water, food, medicine, and the Internet.
Palestinians in Gaza are going through genocide. The destruction of a racial, ethnic or religious group in an organized way and on purpose is called genocide. This also means mass killings and destroying their homes. This has been happening for the last 76 years. The military forces of Israel have control over Palestinian land. The military is called the Israeli occupation forces. They do not let Palestinians get important necessary things to survive, like water, food, important medicine and supplies. They have no way of getting money or contacting others with technology. They prevent trucks from going through a border called, Rafah. Important supplies can’t be delivered.
Why We Are Raising Money
In December 2023, Alice Wong, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, and Jane Shi started the “Crips for eSims for Gaza” campaign. It encourages disabled people, who call themselves crips, to raise money for eSIMs.
In October 2023, Egyptian writer and activist Mirna El Helbawi started a project called Connecting Humanity. This project helps keep Palestinians in Gaza connected. Mirna’s team gives out donated eSIMs to people who help others, like journalists, doctors, paramedics, students, and teachers. They also give eSIMs to people living in Gaza so they can contact their families. This helps them share what is happening and what they are experiencing with the world.
More than 160 volunteers and donors have raised over $1 million for these eSIMs. So far, they have given out more than 14,000 eSIMs to those in need. This has allowed over 10,000 eSIMs to be activated since December 2023.
Why Should People in the West Help?
Disabled people in countries like the United States and Europe should care about the fight for Palestinian freedom. Countries like the United States and Europe are called the West. The struggles of people in the West and Palestinians are connected. In Gaza, many people are disabled because of violence, bombings, and starvation. Israeli forces have hurt disabled people. They hurt people with Down’s syndrome. They hurt adults, children, and babies. It’s important for disabled activists and people in other countries to understand what we have in common with Palestinians who are trying to survive and be free.
How to send eSIMs to Palestinians in Gaza
The following instructions can help you learn how to donate. There is more information in the following link:
https://connecting-humanity.org
Steps for Sending an eSIM
- Buy eSIM via desktop or mobile. There are more details below on where to buy from.
- Take a clear screenshot of the QR code. This means that the image of the QR code should be large.
- Add or paste the QR code in an email.
- Copy/paste the eSIM’s activation code, ICCID, or item ID into the email. This will help us keep track of it.
- Include in subject/body of email: Provider, size of data, expiration date, if you’ll top up your eSIM.
- Here’s an example of how that would be typed out: “Nomad 10GB Middle East August 10th expiration, top up Crips for eSIMs for Gaza.”
- If you buy more than one eSIM, send one email per eSIM. Send your email to email to gazaesims@gmail.com. Remember the “s” at the end of “gazaesims”!
Important note: do not scan and activate the eSIM on your phone!
How to send an eSim for free
If you would like Crips for eSims for Gaza to pay you back after you buy and donate an eSim, add the following steps:
- Before you send your email, put cripsforesimsforgaza@gmail.com in the BCC or CC section of your email.
- Then, put “Crips for eSims for Gaza” in the subject.
- Then, email cripsforesimsforgaza@gmail.com your payment method (e-transfer or PayPal). Say how much your eSim cost and what in what currency.
Provider Instructions
There are three different providers you can buy eSIMs from. Here are the details. This table can help you pick which one. It’s the same information as below. If you need help, you can email questions to: cripsforesimsforgaza@gmail.com
| Provider | Regions | Preferred Sizes | Discounts | Payment Options |
| Nomad | Middle East | 3GB and over | 10% discount on Tuesdays, Promo Code: NOMADTUE | Multiple currencies, PayPal, credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay |
| Simly | Palestine (30 days) | Various | ARB (25% off) (Currently doesn’t work) | USD only, Credit Card, Apple Pay, Cash App |
| Airalo | Global | 5GB and over | MK15 (10%) | Credit card, Debit card, PayPal |
Nomad
Regions: Middle East
Preferred sizes: 3GB and over, top up using 10GB once eSIM is active
Interface:
- available via mobile app and desktop
- Accessing multiple eSIMs involves scrolling page-by-page, as in, a handful of eSIMs appear on screen at a time.
QR Code: arrives in your email or is inside the app when you click “How to use” and then “Install your eSIM” and then “Scan QR Code.”
Tracking tips: In your email, include your eSIM’s expiration date, activation code, and order number. This helps us track the eSIMs that are donated. The expiration date is at the bottom of the email when the eSIM comes to your email. The ICCID is also helpful for you to visit web pages for individual eSIMs on the desktop application. The URL for an individual eSIM is https://www.getnomad.app/esim/%5BICCID number].
Payment: Many different ways to pay, including PayPal, credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay
Discounts: On Tuesdays, the desktop website has a 10% discount on eSIMs for 10GB and over. You don’t get this discount when buying it through the mobile app. The promo code is: NOMADTUE. There is also the promo code NomadCNG
This one can be used 50 times and the discount is 5%. Off
Usually you can’t use the promo codes to top up, or add minutes to the eSIM cards.
Nomad eSIM seems to be the most activated eSIM and also the most time-consuming to track and top-up.
Top ups: Nomad will let you know once your eSIM has used 60% and 80% of its data, but these notifications are only helpful when you haven’t already topped up your eSIM.
Simly
Interfaces:
- Only available on mobile app
- Seems to work best on iOS
- Continuous scroll of all eSIMs purchased
Regions: Palestine (30 days)
QR Code: inside the app per eSIM when you click “Install” and then the “QR Code” in the middle tab.
Other tips: Once you’ve purchased an eSIM, click on the “Install” button, and then click on the three dots at the top right. There you will find the eSIM’s ICCID Number. You can also click on the “Manual” tab on the right and copy-paste the activation code in your original email so you can easily search up the eSIM that goes to which email. A screenshot won’t work here.
Payment: USD money only; Credit Card, Apple Pay, Cash App
Top-up: Once you’ve bought an eSIM, and the eSIM becomes activated, you can click where it says top up on the button on the left. Sometimes these top ups might not go through. You can ask for a refund if this happens. The orange circle is for Palestine and the gray circle for Middle East will turn green.
Discounts: referral bonuses, e.g. JANEJFA3, F07107375679, and FREEELT1 (multiple-uses).
Airalo
Regions: Global (Discover)
Preferred sizes: 5GB and over. If you have a credit card, auto renewal can be turned on so it won’t run out.
QR Code: Inside each eSIM when you go to “my eSIMs,” then “Package Details,” then “View Instructions,” and then the third tab, “QR Code.”
Interface:
- available on mobile app and desktop
- Continuous scroll
- Customer service chat within app
- Expired or invalid eSIMs can be archived
Tracking tips: copy-paste the ICCID number at the top of each eSIM in your original email
Payment: credit card, debit card, PayPal; variety of currencies
Discounts: MK15 (10%) (multiple use)
Top ups: Manual top-ups can be any size data. Discounts work for top-ups too. Auto-renewal means you don’t need to check and collects points.
Note: Hotspotting is available for these eSIMs, meaning people in Gaza can share this eSIM with their family and neighbours or use it on another device. People in Gaza share their eSIMs with their family and neighbours or use it on another device. This is called Hotspotting and it means many more people can access the internet, contact family and tell their stories.
A few important words to know
QR Code: A digital image that your phone can scan to quickly connect to the internet or perform other tasks.
ICCID: The unique number assigned to each eSIM for identification.
Providers: Companies that sell eSIMs, such as Nomad or Simly.
Networks: The system that allows phones and devices to connect to the Internet.
Interfaces: The way you interact with the app or website, either on mobile or desktop.
Genocide: Destruction, done on purpose and in an organized way, of a racial, ethnic or religious group. This also means mass killings and destroying their homes.
Occupation: When one country takes control of another territory or country.
Colonization:
When one group takes control of another territory or country over time. Colonization means the new group, or colonizers, controls and changes the land, culture, and resources of that place. The people whose lands are taken over are called the colonized. These original people are often called Indigenous peoples.
Settler Colonialism:
A type of colonization where people come to live on the lands they take over after the first colonizers arrive. These people are called settlers. Settlers help keep control over the land. They change the culture and rules of the society, or community, for the original people. The new culture and rules say that settlers are better than Indigenous people. These rules control how Indigenous people live.
URL: The address of a website, starting with “http” or “https.”
Scrolling: Moving through a webpage or app by sliding your finger or using the mouse to see more content.
The West: Countries in North America and Western Europe, like the USA, Canada, and the UK.
Liberation: Freedom from oppression or control.
Disabled: People who experience limitations due to physical, mental, or sensory impairments. You might also see them call themselves “crip.” Disabled, or crip people, use this word for themselves for many different reasons.
Hotspotting: Sharing your phone’s Internet connection with other devices.
Telecommunication Systems: The networks and technology that allow people to communicate by phone or internet.
Manual: A guide or instructions on how to do something.
Screenshot: A digital image of your screen.
Activation Code: A unique code that allows you to activate and use your eSIM.
Palestine: A country in the Middle East. Israel controls land in Palestine.
Israel: A country in the Middle East established in 1948 to control the land in Palestine.
Israeli Occupation Forces: The military forces of Israel that control Palestinian territories, often referred to in the context of occupation.