The enclave has been without phone and internet services for more than 12 hours, warning that a power outage could mask rights violations.
Gaza remains inaccessible to the outside world following the disruption of telephone and internet services, as humanitarian and media organizations warn that the communications blackout could be a pretext for atrocities in the besieged enclave.
Palestinians in Gaza were unable to communicate with people outside the enclave for a second day on Saturday after the worst bombings of the war and Hamas reported limited ground incursions by Israeli forces overnight.
Palestinian telecommunications provider Jawwal said late Friday that the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip had “destroyed all remaining international routes connecting Gaza to the outside world.”
Nida Ibrahim, reporting for Al Jazeera from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said Saturday that there was “very, very little” information from the Gaza Strip.
“After Gaza fell into darkness, with no communications, no phones, no internet connections, Palestinians here outside Gaza and elsewhere … feel like they are also being left in the dark about what is going on,” Ibrahim said.
“They can’t check on their friends and their loved ones [and] Family members to check whether they are still alive or not.”
Amnesty International said it had lost contact with its colleagues in Gaza and the lack of communication was making it increasingly difficult to document rights abuses.
“This communications blackout means it will become even more difficult to obtain critical information and evidence about human rights violations and war crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and to hear directly from those who experienced the violations,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, senior director of research, Advocacy, Politics and Campaigns said in a statement on Friday.
Deborah Brown, senior technology and human rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the blackout was intended to “provide cover for mass atrocities and contribute to impunity for human rights abuses.”
Cindy McCain, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, said on Twitter, now X, that the WFP had “lost contact” with its Gaza teams.
“The silence is deafening,” she wrote.
We have lost contact with our teams #Gaza.
The silence is deafening.
As the conflict rages on, I am deeply concerned for the safety of all humanitarian workers and civilians.
We are at a turning point. Humanity must win.
– Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) October 28, 2023
The collapse of communications services in Gaza came as Israel stepped up its bombardment ahead of an expected large-scale ground offensive on the enclave.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, posted on X that the power outage made it “impossible for ambulances to reach the injured.”
“We are still not in contact with our staff and health facilities. I worry about their safety,” he said.
Reports of heavy bombardment in the Gaza Strip are extremely worrying.
It is not possible to evacuate patients under such circumstances and it is also not possible to find safe accommodation.
The power outage also makes it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured.
We still have no contact with our employees…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 28, 2023
The Committee to Protect Journalists also warned that the “news blackout” could have “serious consequences,” including the spread of misinformation.
Al Jazeera correspondents in the Gaza Strip have been able to provide sporadic updates via satellite, but direct communications are often hampered due to the near-total communications blackout in the enclave.
On Friday, Al Jazeera’s Safwat Kahlout reported from Gaza City that recent Israeli airstrikes were far more intense compared to previous attacks.
“Today is the worst in terms of the strength of Israeli fire and we can hear some explosions… also from the sea, especially in the north of the Gaza Strip,” Kahlout said.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Khan Younis in Gaza, said on Friday that residents were “shocked and frightened” after being left “completely isolated.”
Israel launched scores of airstrikes on Gaza on Oct. 7 in response to Hamas attacks in the country, killing 1,405 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 7,326 Palestinians, including more than 3,000 children, according to Palestinian officials.