Key Takeaways
- The United States pressured Israel to restore communications in the Gaza Strip, citing humanitarian needs.
- A communications blackout disrupted emergency services and UN aid delivery, prompting diplomatic action.
- Partial restoration was achieved, but full connectivity remains essential for civilians, aid workers, and journalists.
Washington: The United States has put pressure on the Israeli government to restore communications in the Gaza Strip, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing a senior US official.
A communications blackout has been reported in the Palestinian exclave since Friday night when the Israel Defence Forces announced the expansion of ground operations in Gaza.
The breakdown in communications disrupted emergency services and cut off contact with the UN staff delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Gaza Strip’s civil defence confirmed the partial restoration of communications in the region.
“We made it clear they had to be turned back on,” the official told the newspaper.
The official added that the Israelis did not explain to Washington why they cut off communications in the Gaza Strip, the report read.
Later on Monday, the White House confirmed reports that the US government worked with the Israeli side to restore communications in Gaza.
“The restoration of communications in Gaza was critical.
Aid workers, civilians, and journalists need to be able to communicate to each other and the rest of the world.
Our Administration cared about this, worked on it, and are glad to see it restored,” the White House said on X.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people in neighbouring Israeli communities.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than two million people, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel.
The blockade was later eased to allow trucks with humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people killed and injured on both sides.
