Amid ongoing conflict and widespread unemployment, co-working tech hubs have begun to emerge in Gaza. These hubs are providing opportunities for well-educated graduates to work remotely for foreign companies as coders, software engineers, and app developers.
The development comes as 80% of Gazans are unemployed and lack income, with many living in tents among rubble. Stable electricity and internet remain challenging to access, and near-daily bombings continue, making wider recovery uncertain.
Even before the 7 October 2023 attack and the subsequent conflict between Israel and Hamas, non-governmental organisations, with Google's support, had aimed to develop tech start-ups in the Gaza Strip. The digital economy was identified as one of the few sectors where young Gazans could earn money for their families.
However, significant obstacles persist, including finding reliable internet, electricity, and spare parts for laptops, with Israel controlling what enters and exits Gaza.