Getting a Phone and SIM card in Palestine

As you’ll likely want to be able to stay in touch with your friends and family back home, or with the Palestinians you meet here, you’ll be happy to know WiFi is available in Palestine in most coffee shops and usually also in your accommodation.

However, you may want to purchase a SIM card to be able to call people within Palestine and to use the internet when there is no WiFi. Most Palestinians use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram to communicate. Still, in case of an emergency, it is wise to have a Palestinian phone number to be able to call your host family, new friends, or the staff of Travel to Palestine. Therefore, we’ve compiled a guide to buying a SIM card in Palestine.

3G	Available in Palestine
Data plan Costs	5 to 45 GB, ranging from 15 to 80 shekel
SIM card in Palestine	Jawwal and Ooredoo

Virtual Occupation

Before diving into the practicalities, it is good to know that 3G has been available in Palestine only since 2018. Israel has security control over the West Bank and Gaza, including telecommunications. Whereas Israel already upgraded to 4G in 2013 and has since begun building super-fast 5G networks in urban centers, Palestinian companies still use 3G networks.

Talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials over setting up 4G cellular networks have stalled over Israeli delaying tactics. In Gaza, Israel has only permitted 2G networks to operate. Thus, during your stay in Palestine, you will feel the occupation even through your phone. It is not just an occupation of physical space, but also virtual.

Before You Go

Before you go, if you are planning to purchase a SIM card when in Palestine, you must know whether your phone is SIM-locked or not. Certain carriers and phone companies in North America and Europe do not allow their customers to change the SIM cards in their phones, which could cause you issues if you come here expecting to be able to change it and are unable to. You can find out whether your phone is SIM-locked or not by reaching out to your service provider.

Israeli SIM card

Many Palestinians use Israeli SIM cards to profit from the fast 4G/LTE networks. You can use an Israeli SIM card as a visitor, but buying one from the black market in Palestine is against the law – you can get arrested for it. If you wish to have an Israeli SIM card, buy one in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.

Palestinian SIM card

If you buy a SIM card in Palestine, you can choose between Jawwal and Ooredoo. They have a market share of more than 80% of people in Palestine. You can use their networks all over the West Bank, and speeds are decent.

Ooredoo Palestine is run by Kuwait and Qatar and is the second operator in Palestine. SIM cards are cheaper under this carrier, and the rates for data packages are more affordable.

SIM card

The process of purchasing a Palestinian SIM card is simple. There are shops in each city where you can buy a SIM card or top-up your phone plan.

Getting a Palestinian SIM card will give you a local Palestinian number and allow you to receive incoming calls, and the price for a SIM card alone costs ten to twenty shekels. It’s completely possible to get a prepaid card if wanted, meaning there is no contract and you can add more minutes easily.

Data plan

With your SIM card, you can purchase an international data plan, but the price of your data plan depends on the phone company you wish to sell your project from.

With Jawwal, you can purchase from 15 to 45 GB, ranging from 15 to 80 shekels. With Ooredoo, you can buy from 500MB to 40GB, and prices range from 5 to 70 shekels.

Adventure

If you have purchased your SIM card, just swap your old SIM card (make sure to keep it in a safe place), and you can start your calling and roaming adventure in Palestine. We hope you found this helpful information. Enjoy your stay!

Conclusion

Staying connected while traveling in Palestine is crucial for both personal and practical reasons. Whether you want to keep in touch with loved ones back home or communicate with the people you meet during your travels, having reliable access to the internet and phone services is essential. While WiFi is commonly available in many coffee shops and accommodations, purchasing a local SIM card from providers like Jawwal or Ooredoo ensures you have continuous connectivity, especially in emergencies. Despite the challenges posed by the region’s telecommunications infrastructure, acquiring a Palestinian SIM card is straightforward and offers good value for data and calling plans. By following this guide, you can easily set up your phone and enjoy your stay in Palestine, staying connected every step of the way.

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Travel to Palestine is a passionate travel brand because we do things differently. We believe in passionate travel, unique experiences, and using technology to offer great service. We show Palestine as more than just a place of history and religion. It’s a land full of amazing sights, delicious flavors, lively sounds, diverse people, fascinating stories, incredible history, and unforgettable memories. We live it, breathe it, and always aim to do better.

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Travel to Palestine regularly organizes trips to Palestinian refugee camps in Hebron and Bethlehem, such as Al-Fawar and Aida camps, to show visitors the daily life of Palestinian refugees.

During your visit, you will hear firsthand stories from Palestinian refugees about how they became displaced and the challenges they face living in the camps. Travel to Palestine will provide a translator to facilitate conversations and explain more about the history of the camps.

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