Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes of “unprecedented” intensity across all parts of the Gaza Strip this evening.
The airstrike, which observers described as much fiercer and louder than previous days, coincided with power and communications outages across much of the besieged enclave, raising fears that a full-scale Israeli ground invasion could be imminent.
According to one report, the Israelis have even fired “bunker buster” concussion rockets to try to destroy Hamas’s extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza.
The Israeli military appeared to confirm the reports, with IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari telling reporters at a press conference today: “In the last few hours we have increased attacks in Gaza.”
“The Air Force is attacking underground targets and terrorist infrastructure on a large scale, on a very large scale.”
“Continuing the offensive activities we have conducted in recent days, ground forces are expanding their ground activities this evening.”
Israel has increased its bombing raids on Gaza
Gaza was bombarded continuously for almost three weeks
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari (pictured) said at a press conference today: “In the last few hours we have increased attacks in Gaza.” “The air force is carrying out significant attacks on underground targets and terrorist infrastructure.”
The Hamas government said Israel had cut communications and much of the internet across the Gaza Strip as a result of the increasing bombardment.
Hamas’s media office accused Israel of taking the measures to “carry out massacres with bloody reprisals from the air, land and sea” as heavy attacks hit the northern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian telecommunications provider Jawwal announced the “complete suspension of all communications services and the Internet” in the area.
Global internet monitor NetBlocks, citing live network data, reported “a collapse in connectivity in the Gaza Strip with major implications for Paltel,” Jawwal’s owner.
Hamas accused Israel of increasing its rocket attacks to “carry out massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land and sea.”
Gaza was bombed by Israeli aircraft tonight after the IDF launched an intensified bombing campaign
“The company is the last major operator still offering service as connectivity declines due to ongoing fighting with Israel,” NetBlocks wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Non-governmental organizations have claimed that the move could be deadly for Gazans. The Palestinian Red Crescent, the main emergency service in Gaza, said it was cut off from its operations room in the Gaza Strip because of the internet outage.
A statement said: “We are deeply concerned about the ability of our teams to continue to provide their emergency medical services, particularly as this disruption affects the central emergency number ‘101’ and hinders the arrival of ambulances to the wounded and injured.”‘
The IDF said tonight it would expand its bombing campaign against Gaza and “work vigorously in all dimensions” to achieve its military objectives.
It was not clear whether this was a threat of a full-scale invasion or a larger but similar “reconnaissance” to the one launched on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, with troops returning at dawn.
Former Gen. Wesley Clark, NATO’s former allied commander, told CNN he believes the operation was a preparatory “softening operation” rather than a full-scale invasion, adding that any investigation would reveal important information about provided the reaction of Hamas defenders.
Witnesses said Israeli forces fired artillery and tank fire into Gaza and carried out “unprecedented” airstrikes.
Significantly, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari today highlighted Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, claiming it is being used as a Hamas command and control facility, adding: “We are continuing our efforts to identify and intercept terrorist cells .’
Hamas denied using the hospital.
The new upsurge in violence against Gaza came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for more aid to be allowed into Gaza from Egypt.
“The humanitarian system in Gaza is facing complete collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians,” Guterres said in a statement.
The Palestinian death toll topped 7,300 as Israel launched waves of airstrikes in response to Hamas’ bloody rampage in southern Israel on October 7.
The Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, which oversees the toll, released a detailed list of names and ID numbers on Thursday.
In the occupied West Bank, more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids since the war began three weeks ago.
More than 1,400 people were killed in Israel, mostly civilians killed during the first Hamas attack.
In addition, 229 people, including foreigners, children and older adults, were captured by Hamas during the raid and remain trapped in Gaza. So far four hostages have been released early.
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