The United Nations said on Thursday that a total internet blackout has struck the Gaza Strip, most probably due to damage to the sole remaining communications cable in the midst of continued military action.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the blackout has taken a heavy toll on emergency services and humanitarian operations. “Lifelines to emergency services, humanitarian coordination, and vital information for civilians have all been severed,” he said to journalists.
Cellular networks are also hardly operational, exacerbating the crisis. Haq cautioned that the blackout has frozen relief operations in an already ravaged area, constraining both physical access and communication.
“In a setting already constrained by physical access limitations and general destruction, emergency services are isolated, and civilians are unable to reach life-saving assistance,” he stated.
The blackout highlights the increasing difficulties for aid organizations and civilians alike in Gaza, as fighting continues to interrupt critical infrastructure and humanitarian coordination.
