Human Rights Team/Impact of the war in Gaza and Israel

Overview

Human Rights and Wikimedia

HRIG

CEE Statement

Digital Safety

Glossary

Crisis in Gaza & Israel

Impact of the crisis in Gaza and Israel

As a Foundation we continue to be deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel. Towards this, we continue to provide support through our Human Rights Team to Wikimedians who require assistance. The team can be reached through talktohumanrightswikimedia.org for resources such as digital security, guides, and support networks. We urge everyone to be cautious and to surface safety and human rights concerns through private channels to avoid putting our fellow volunteers at risk. As always, community members facing imminent threats of physical harm or persecution are encouraged to alert emergencywikimedia.org. We greatly appreciate the ongoing close collaboration with many functionaries through such channels and conversations.

Wikimedia digital security best practices

• Limit exposing any personal information such as real name, used usernames, email, photos and IP address.
• If you wish to change your username please follow these instructions.
• Make sure your password is strong, unique and not saved on your browser.
• See our Internet Outages Guide for resources and support in case you lose Internet access.
• If there are pictures of yourself on Commons that you would like to have removed swiftly, email emergencywikimedia.org.
• To get your edits suppressed or block your account entirely, email emergencywikimedia.org or have a look at the Right to Vanish.

Wikimedia physical security best practices

The situation continues to evolve rapidly and poses grave risks to individuals’ safety and security. The Foundation recommends that all Wikimedians located in impacted areas observe the physical safety precautions as recommended by their governments—where such guidance is available and practical. For example, the U.S. Department of State (as of November 2023) recommends:

• Maintain a high degree of situational awareness and exercise caution at all times, especially at checkpoints and other areas with a significant presence of security forces;
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds;
• Follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials;
• Beware of and report suspicious activities, including unattended items, to local police; and
• Learn the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened shelter.

Similar information may be available through your country’s ministry of foreign affairs, such as the advisories issued by the governments of Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.