Communication Blackout in Gaza as Israel Tightens Siege Around Gaza City

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For the third time since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Gaza has experienced a complete telecommunications blackout, with the Israeli military announcing a strategic encirclement of Gaza City, effectively bisecting the coastal territory.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari presented a stark division to the press, stating, “We now have a north Gaza and a south Gaza,” describing this move as a pivotal moment in Israel’s campaign against the Hamas rulers of the enclave. Reports from Israeli media suggest a potential move into Gaza City by troops within the next two days. As darkness fell, intense explosions were witnessed in Gaza’s northern regions.

The widespread “collapse in connectivity” across Gaza has been documented by NetBlocks.org, an internet monitoring organization, and corroborated by Paltel, a Palestinian telecommunications firm. This disruption has posed significant challenges in reporting on the evolution of the conflict.

Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, expressed to The Big Big News the severe communication breakdown with the majority of UNRWA’s team in the area. The initial communications disruption in Gaza endured for 36 hours with a subsequent short-lived outage following suit.

Escalation of the Israel-Hamas Conflict

• Continued Offensive: Despite international calls for a cessation of hostilities, Israel has sustained its assault with the intent to debilitate Hamas, even amidst U.S. requests for temporary respites to deliver aid to the beleaguered civilian population.
• Casualty Figures: The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, has cited over 9,700 Palestinian casualties, with a significant number being children and minors, as the conflict nears a month’s duration.
• Targeted Strikes: Recent air attacks on refugee camps have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, with one strike in Maghazi camp causing at least 40 deaths. The Israeli military has yet to comment on these incidents.

Diplomatic Efforts Amidst Growing Tensions:

• U.S. Diplomacy: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has engaged in talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and has visited Iraq for discussions aimed at preventing further regional destabilization and enhancing humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
• Palestinian Leadership: Abbas has indicated that the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume governance over Gaza only under a comprehensive peace agreement establishing an independent state, including territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war.

Humanitarian and Regional Impact:

• Humanitarian Crisis: The conflict has triggered a significant humanitarian crisis, with a substantial portion of Gaza’s population seeking refuge and facing shortages of essentials such as food, water, and fuel.
• Regional Repercussions: The war has not only affected Gaza but has also led to cross-border incidents with Lebanon, including an exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

As the conflict persists, the international community continues to witness the devastating impact on civilians and the rising demand for a resolution that addresses the long-standing issues at the heart of this enduring conflict.

For comprehensive coverage, visit https://bigbignews.net/israel-hamas-war.

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More about Gaza Communications Blackout

• Gaza Telecommunications Outage
• Israel-Hamas Conflict Updates
• Humanitarian Impact in Gaza
• U.S. Diplomatic Efforts in Israel-Hamas War
• Regional Tensions Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict