Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Friday that his forces will expand ground operations in the Gaza Strip from today, in parallel with the bombing of the enclave.
Several journalists on the ground, including Mikel Ayestaran, have currently confirmed that telephone and internet services in Gaza have completely collapsed. Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel has also announced a “complete shutdown” of communications services, blaming the intense bombardment of the enclave. “The reduction is due to the heavy bombardment in recent hours that damaged the international lines connecting Gaza and caused them to be put out of service,” the company confirmed in a statement.
For his part, Israeli Army spokesman Daniel Hagari reported this Friday that his forces will expand their operations in the Gaza Strip from today.
Israel has been carrying out small ground incursions in small parts of the Gaza Strip for two consecutive days in anticipation of the large-scale military ground offensive that they have been announcing for almost three weeks.
Last morning, Israeli forces carried out a small-scale ground incursion into the center of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, attacking “dozens” of the group’s targets such as anti-tank launchers and an operations center, supported by aviation and drones. .
The day before, the Israeli army carried out another ground incursion into the northern part of the enclave, destroying “the Hamas military infrastructure and the group’s tunnels.”
The military has indicated that these operations, which it calls “raids,” are a rehearsal for the large-scale ground invasion they have assured they will carry out when the time is right, a plan apparently postponed by hostages in the enclave. in the hands of Hamas.
The ground offensive is expected to take place in the north of the Strip, as Israel has repeatedly urged the civilian population of the northern half of the enclave, more than a million people, to move south for safety, although Israeli bombings cover the entire territory, including the south.
“In recent hours we have increased the number of attacks in Gaza. The Air Force is attacking underground targets and terrorist infrastructure on a large scale, in a very significant way,” the spokesperson said in a media appearance.
“The Israeli army is working intensively in all dimensions to achieve the objectives of the war,” he added as 20 days of fire passed in the Gaza Strip, where intense and indiscriminate Israeli bombing has claimed the lives of more than 7,300 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Gaza.
Loss of communication
The Palestinian Red Crescent warned on Friday that it has “completely” lost contact with the operations room in the Gaza Strip and all its teams there as a result of cuts to fixed, mobile and internet communications, which it accuses Israeli authorities of doing.
“We are deeply concerned about the ability of our teams to continue providing their emergency medical services, especially as this interruption affects the central emergency number 101 and makes it difficult for ambulances to reach the injured,” the organization said on its social networks. .
Similarly, the Red Crescent has expressed its deep concern for the safety of health teams working in the Gaza Strip due to the “continuous and intense Israeli airstrikes 24 hours a day,” demonstrating that Israel “will continue to commit crimes while occupying Gaza isolates. from the outside world.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
