Palestinian Territory
Internet Access
In June 2017, after a few years of no blocking, the Palestinian Authority ordered ISPs to block 12 news websites affiliated with the rival Islamist group Hamas which controls Gaza Strip, websites affiliated with dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, and 10 news websites which provide news and views on Palestinian politics. This political blocking is a result of political tensions between the Palestinian Authority headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, which controls the West Bank, and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Due to the political friction between the two sides, the ISPs in Gaza do not block the same political content.