This story is adapted from Mohammed R. Mhawish and Aseel Mousa’s recent Rest of World feature, They were building a tech scene in Gaza. Then came the war.
Gaza Sky Geeks may be the world’s unlikeliest tech hub. The startup accelerator was founded in 2011 when Google donated $1 million to support a permanent organization inside Gaza itself, which was operated by the global humanitarian nonprofit Mercy Corps.
Over the next decade, GSG trained thousands of young people in coding, digital marketing, graphic design, and entrepreneurship. Trainees landed internships in data entry and app testing. Women who had never imagined independence designed for companies abroad and took online freelance gigs. Ryan Sturgill, an American with a background in international development and finance, moved to Gaza to become GSG’s executive director in 2015. He described the appeal as, “This notion that you could compete in the global economy through remote work, [allow] smart people to access markets despite the blockade, and actually support a startup in an environment like that.”
The Hamas-led October 7 attack and Israel’s punishing retribution changed everything. Within days, GSG’s office was blown to pieces by an Israeli airstrike.
In the two years since, hundreds of the staff, teachers, students, mentors, and founders involved with GSG have been forcibly displaced. Some have been killed. Others managed to flee Gaza. Still, many have remained active in supporting the GSG network.
Now, with a tentative ceasefire plan in place, the GSG community is surveying the damage done to Gaza’s tech scene — and hoping to rebuild it. “If there is still a Gaza,” Sturgill told Rest of World, “there will continue to be a Gaza Sky Geeks.”
Members of the community shared their reflections about building a tech scene in Gaza and their experience of the war. Individuals currently in Gaza have been anonymized for safety reasons.
Ibrahim Elhout was a tech education officer with GSG, and part of the organization from 2019 to 2024. He currently lives in France.
“I was building the perfect life any young person dreams of: a promising future, a safe home, and stability. But the violence destroyed everything; we lost it all. The daily fear became unbearable. I had no choice but to leave Gaza with my wife and baby, leaving everything behind. After months of uncertainty in Egypt, I had to make another hard decision of moving alone to France to continue my studies, leaving my small family. I am now navigating my new journey, and doing my best to reunite with my beloved ones.”
The name of this current GSG member has been withheld for safety reasons. They currently live in Gaza.
“The war was a deeply traumatic experience that disrupted every aspect of life. I witnessed immense destruction, loss, and suffering — both personally and within my community. Despite the fear and uncertainty, I remained committed to supporting others through my work and volunteering. GSG has been a second home and a source of purpose. It represents resilience, innovation, and hope, especially in challenging times.”
Ahmed Ajour was a tech education officer with GSG, and part of the organization from 2022 to 2023. He currently lives in Egypt.
“My journey with GSG began in 2017, when I joined as a student. Later, I became a mentor and eventually a coordinator. As a technical education officer, I was responsible for the training programs. For us, GSG was a way to contribute to building our community and serving our country. I now work as a software engineer with a Saudi company, specializing in technical education solutions. I am currently in Egypt, but I am looking for a better place where I can secure a future for myself and my family.”
The name of this current GSG member has been withheld for safety reasons. They currently live in Gaza.
“The pain I feel in every breath under this war after two years prevents [me from] describing it. GSG was my idol, and mentor in this life. GSG helped me to stand up, build my career, [and] build the best version of myself.”
Anam Raheem was a tech education manager with GSG, and part of the organization from 2016 to 2021. She currently lives in the U.S.
“I left Gaza in July 2021, about a month after Israel’s 11-day assault, leaving behind years of work. Leaving was not an easy decision — it felt like part of my heart stayed behind. Witnessing the genocide from afar has been heartbreaking. Every story of loss and survival touches someone I know, or reminds me of a moment, a place, a face I loved in Gaza. In response, I founded Gaza Champions, a mutual aid network connecting allies around the world to families in Gaza as pen pals and champions for their fundraisers. It’s been my way of staying connected and turning grief into something active.”
The name of this current GSG member has been withheld for safety reasons. They currently live in Gaza.
“This war is brutal, bringing collective suffering to all Palestinians in Gaza. I never imagined that making a cup of tea or obtaining water, antibiotics, or painkillers would require such tremendous effort. I have been forcibly displaced more than seven times. The suffering on a professional level mirrors the suffering on a personal one. Accessing the internet and carrying out our work are among the greatest challenges we face. Our programs at GSG were suspended for a long period, and we were later forced to shift to emergency programs due to the ongoing situation. For me, GSG is not just an organization — it is part of my identity.”
Ghada Ibrahim was a tech education senior manager with GSG, and part of the organization from 2017 to 2023. She currently lives in Germany.
“I was on a business trip in Tunisia when the war broke out. I was separated from my partner and four kids for three months before we reunited in Germany. I lost my brother, sister-in-law, and six-year-old nephew. My brother was the sole carer of my mom, who had an accident during the war and [is unable] to take care of herself. Not being able to be there for my mom, I was shattered with loss, grief, and crippling helplessness.”
The name of this current GSG member has been withheld for safety reasons. They currently live in Gaza.
“The war completely changed our daily lives. We lost our home and have been living in a tent, struggling every day to find safety, water, and hope. Despite everything, I’ve tried to stay connected to my work and community. This experience has shown me how fragile life can be, but also how strong people can become when they have no other choice.”
Wafa Ulliyan was a program director with GSG, and part of the organization from 2018 to 2019. She currently lives in Canada.
“My family remains in Gaza, and it breaks my heart that I cannot help them leave. GSG challenged the blockade and created opportunities for thousands of talented youth in Gaza who were eager to connect with the world — young people who had long been deprived of the chance to leave Gaza due to movement restrictions.”
Saed R. Habib was a deputy director with GSG, and part of the organization from 2017 to 2025. He currently lives in Belgium.
“Leaving Gaza was a very hard decision between supporting my family and community in Gaza, or leaving and saving my very ill father, and my 3 kids. I had to choose the latter. The war in Gaza was devastating and life-changing. I witnessed constant airstrikes, destruction, and the loss of some of my uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors. The uncertainty and fear were overwhelming, but I tried to remain hopeful and support others where I could. GSG was my second home, I literally spent more time there than with my actual family. It has been a defining part of my life.”
