GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinians are increasingly joining the programming and information technology (IT) sector, one of the fastest-growing business sectors in the Palestinian economy. Statistics issued by PalTrade in 2016 showed that the annual growth rate of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector is 25% with a market share estimated at $500 million in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, a Sept. 20 report by the Times of Israel cited the French news agency AFP as saying that Israeli tech giant Mellanox — which makes technology that connects computers, databases and servers — employs 10 workers in a Gazan programming company. AFP chose not to name the company for security reasons. Those 10 people work for both companies.

This is the first time Palestinian companies from Gaza have signed contracts with Israeli tech companies following Hamas’ takeover of Gaza in 2007 and its refusal to conclude contracts with Israeli companies for fear that the Israeli Mossad would recruit spies.

Hamas fears that the Israeli intelligence service would exploit the Palestinians' need for work and lure them into collaboration through fraud, extortion and intimidation.