Tech We're Using: Gaza and Google Translate: Covering the Conflict When You Don't Speak the Language

I sometimes also carry an Iridium satellite phone, and I always travel with a power strip in case there aren't enough outlets where I am. I try to keep my backpack light in Gaza. Other items -- armor-plated flak jacket, Kevlar helmet, gas mask and spare filters, and a trauma kit -- add lots of weight to my load. Probably the most vital tech tool I carry is the lightest: a paper clip to switch SIM cards. I've been here less than a year and finally got a local number from the Palestinian provider Jawwal, which has good coverage across Gaza and can be quickly replenished at countless retail shops.