Gaza City: The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced that all internet and fixed-line communications services in the Gaza Strip have been severed. This development follows the targeting of the last main fiber route, effectively isolating the region from essential communication channels.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the TRA issued a statement highlighting the increasing digital isolation in the Gaza Strip due to the systematic destruction of communications infrastructure. Despite numerous previous efforts to repair severed and alternative routes, the central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip have now joined Gaza City and the northern regions in experiencing a communications blackout for the second consecutive day.
The TRA emphasized that the ongoing targeting of communications networks exacerbates the isolation of the Gaza Strip from the outside world. This isolation hampers citizens' access to crucial services, including relief, health, media, and educational services, which are essential under the current circumstances.
The TRA warned of severe humanitarian and social consequences stemming from this outage. It urged local and international authorities to intervene urgently, facilitating safe access for technical crews to repair the damaged infrastructure. The agency noted that the continued outage worsens the communications crisis, extending the imposed isolation on the Gaza Strip.
The TRA further explained that the occupation is obstructing technical crews from repairing the damaged cables and accessing alternative backup routes. Despite months of efforts to repair several alternative routes, these attempts were rejected, and the crews were prevented from working.
Since the onset of the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the region has experienced several interruptions in telecommunications and internet services. These disruptions have been attributed to intense Israeli bombardment and the depletion of fuel needed to operate electric generators.
