Israeli authorities have cut internet service to the Gaza Strip completely four times since the recent escalation began on October 7th. But each previous time lasted only a couple of days (during which Israeli forces dramatically increased their attacks). During the current cutoff, it has lasted most of five days, and the Palestinian Telecommunications company announced Tuesday a complete disconnect from all fixed communications and internet in the Gaza Strip.
This comes in the midst of an ongoing Israeli ground invasion throughout all parts of the Gaza Strip, and the displacement of an estimated 1.7 million people (out of a total population of 2.3 million), the destruction of an estimated 70% of the housing in Gaza, and the killing of at least 20,915 Palestinians, according to the UN. The large majority of those killed are women and children. As of 26 December, 54,918 Palestinians have been injured. Many people are missing, presumably buried under the rubble, with many still waiting for rescue or recovery. Humanitarian operations are facing increasing operational challenges due to intensified hostilities, insecurity, blocked roads, scarcity of fuel, and extremely limited communications.
In the last update released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, between 23 and 26 December, 858 Palestinians were reportedly killed, and another 1,598 people were injured. Between 22 and 26 December, 24 Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed in Gaza. Since the start of the ground operation, 164 soldiers have been killed, and 874 soldiers have been injured in Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
Since that report was released, the Palestinian Telecommunications Company “Paltel” announced the complete interruption of fixed telecommunications and Internet services in the Gaza Strip, due to the continued Israeli aggression against the Strip.
Paltel explained, in a post on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, that its technical crews are working to restore services despite the seriousness of field conditions .
On 25 December, Israeli media published a video reportedly showing Israeli forces detaining hundreds of Palestinians inside Al Yarmouk football stadium in Gaza city. The video shows the detainees, including children, older people and persons with disabilities, being forced to strip to their underwear in degrading conditions. On 26 December, the media published video testimonies from Palestinian detainees who had been taken to Israel and then reportedly released back into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The detainees, including older persons, alleged that they had been tortured and ill-treated in captivity, with video footage showing bruises and burns on their bodies. They also reported being deprived of food, water, and access to toilets and being exposed to the elements.
Footage online shows dozens of Palestinians,
including women, children and the elderly, detained by the Israeli army.Dozens of Palestinian men were stripped of their clothes and lined up in a stadium in the Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/ju6zMql90j
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 26, 2023
