For Palestinian drivers in the West Bank, mainstream navigation apps are not just unhelpful—they are dangerous. Google Maps defaults to the fastest routes, many of which run through settlements or areas under Israeli control, and it does not account for the 942 checkpoints, gates, and other barriers that now fragment the territory. A driver following those directions risks arrest, fines, or worse.
Anas Hattab, a 30-year-old who once worked as a newspaper delivery driver, started a Telegram group called "Road Conditions" in 2019 to close that information gap. What began as a small crowdsourced chat has become an essential utility: nearly 350,000 people follow it, and a team of volunteer moderators verifies reports from drivers before posting. Local radio stations build hourly road segments from his dispatches, and a routing system used by West Bank companies plus a new local app integrate his data.
The need has only grown since October 7, 2023. An investigation by WIRED and partner outlets found that checkpoint delays have increased by more than 50 percent, and the average West Bank commuter now loses about 77 hours per year taking roundabout routes. No official data on checkpoint openings and closures exists, which makes Hattab's operation a rare source of ground truth—and a reminder that when public infrastructure fails, communities can build their own.