Internet service resumes in Gaza following a 3-day outage: Confirmation from a Palestinian telecommunications authority representative.
Updated Report on Gaza's Internet Outage
Hear it straight from the horse's mouth. Laith Daraghmeh, CEO of the Palestinian Authority's regulatory body, announces that the network's back online across the whole Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, Palestine's telecom ministry let the world know that the internet and landline communications were down. Israel's soldiers allegedly took out a fibre optic cable, but the Israeli government has remained mum on the matter.
The ministry's technical teams initially struggled to safely access the damaged sites. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, on the other hand, voiced their concerns over the outage hindering their operations. They pointed the finger at Israel for the blackout.
The ongoing 21-month war in Gaza has resulted in grievous damage to infrastructure, including water pipes, power lines, and roads in the Palestinian territory.
Insights:- The communication disruptions in the Gaza Strip were chiefly due to damage to the telecom infrastructure caused by ongoing hostilities.- The damage was allegedly a result of "systematic" targeting of Gaza's communications infrastructure by Israel, as per Palestine's Telecommunications Regulation Authority.- The outage was particularly impactful in central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.- Israeli authorities were accused of initially denying access to repair teams, prolonging the disruptions.- Access was later granted, allowing for the quick repair of telecommunications cables, enabling the restoration of internet services.- The region continued to experience disruptions, with the Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority emphasizing the need for protection of technical crews to ensure continued service.- This incident is part of a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with restrictions on movement and access to essential services exacerbating the situation during military operations.- International humanitarian law stresses the importance of maintaining unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and services, a goal challenged by such disruptions.
© 2025 AFP
This report has been condensed and restructured for improved readability while preserving essential information.
Despite the restoration of internet services in Gaza, tensions lingered around the politics of the outage. Israel and Palestine continue to be at the center of controversy regarding the alleged sabotage of the fibre optic cable, with Israel's government yet to provide an official statement. Meanwhile, Israel-Gaza relations remain under scrutiny due to the broader issues of the ongoing political conflict and general news stories revolving around the frequent disruptions in Gaza's telecommunications infrastructure.
