In an intensified barrage on Friday night, Israel disabled internet and communication services in the Gaza Strip, severing contact among its 2.3 million inhabitants and isolating them from the outside world. This blackout of information coincided with the military’s announcement of an “expansion” of ground operations in the region, indicating a potential move toward a full-scale invasion of Gaza. The ongoing conflict stems from Israel’s determination to defeat the ruling Hamas militant group after a deadly incursion in southern Israel three weeks prior.
Continuous airstrikes illuminated the sky over Gaza City well into the night. The Palestinian telecommunications provider, Paltel, reported a “complete disruption” of internet, cellular, and landline services due to the bombardment. This disruption hindered immediate knowledge of casualties from strikes and details of ground incursions. Some satellite phones, however, remained operational.
With most electricity cut off weeks ago, Palestinians were already grappling with darkness. Now, they find themselves in isolation, seeking refuge in homes and shelters, with dwindling food and water supplies. Relatives outside Gaza experienced panic as their messaging with family inside abruptly ceased, and calls went unanswered.
Lynn Hastings, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the occupied territories, emphasized the critical role of phone lines and internet for hospitals and aid operations. The Red Crescent reported an inability to reach medical teams, and residents could no longer call for ambulances, forcing rescuers to rely on the sound of explosions to locate the wounded.
The Committee to Protect Journalists voiced concern, stating that the world is losing a crucial perspective on the conflict. They warned that this information void could be filled with dangerous propaganda and misinformation.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari declared that ground forces were intensifying their actions in Gaza, employing substantial force to achieve their objectives in the conflict. Israel maintains that its strikes are aimed at Hamas fighters and infrastructure, while asserting that militants often operate within civilian areas, putting civilians at risk.
The Hamas media center reported intense nighttime clashes with Israeli forces, including tanks, at various locations near the border fence. In response, the Israeli military reiterated on Saturday that they were conducting targeted raids and expanding strikes to lay the groundwork for future stages of the operation.
Israel has amassed a significant number of troops along the border in anticipation of an imminent ground offensive. Earlier on Friday, ground forces conducted a second multi-hour incursion into Gaza in as many days, targeting dozens of militant sites.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 7,300, with over 60% being minors and women. The blockade on Gaza has led to a shortage of supplies, and the U.N. warned that its aid operation, supporting hundreds of thousands, is on the brink of collapse due to nearly depleted fuel.
The conflict has raised the specter of a broader regional war. Arab nations, including U.S. allies and those with normalized ties with Israel, have expressed increasing concern about a potential ground invasion, which could result in even higher casualties in urban warfare.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi cautioned that the outcome could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions for years to come.
U.S. warplanes targeted sites in eastern Syria linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard after a series of attacks on American forces. Meanwhile, two unexplained explosions occurred in coastal towns in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, injuring six people. Egypt attributed the incidents to drones from the south over the Red Sea, while Israel blamed Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have attempted to launch rockets toward Israel since the conflict began.
The loss of internet and phone services further strains a medical and aid system already teetering on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by the influx of wounded individuals and dwindling supplies under Israel’s prolonged seal. Over 1.4 million people have fled their homes, with nearly half seeking refuge in U.N. schools and shelters. Relief workers assert that the meager amount of aid permitted by Israel from Egypt over the past week is a fraction of what is needed.
Gaza’s hospitals are struggling to obtain fuel to power emergency generators that operate incubators and other life-saving equipment.
Gallant, the Defense Minister, expressed Israel’s belief that Hamas would confiscate any fuel that enters Gaza. He stated that Hamas uses generators to pump air into its extensive network of tunnels, many of which originate in civilian areas. He presented aerial footage purporting to show a tunnel shaft located right next to a hospital.
Late Friday, the army released photos claiming to depict Hamas installations in and around Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest in Gaza. Israel has made similar claims before, but did not disclose how they obtained the photos.
Little is known about Hamas’ tunnels and other infrastructure, and claims made by the military and Gallant could not be independently verified. In response, Hamas media chief Salama Maroof dismissed Israel’s claims as “lies” and warned of imminent danger to the facility and its occupants. The hospital is struggling to cope with thousands of patients and wounded individuals, while around 40,000 displaced residents have sought shelter in and around its premises, according to the U.N.
When asked about the military’s intentions regarding Shifa Hospital, Hagari emphasized that they cannot allow terrorist activity against Israel from hospitals, and together with the rest of the world, they must confront this red flag. He maintained that Hamas uses its own population as a human shield.
Hundreds of thousands remain in northern Gaza, either unable or unwilling to evacuate south as instructed by Israel. Leaflets distributed in Gaza by Israel have warned that those who remain might be considered “accomplices” of Hamas.
