Gaza City – In a significant escalation of its offensive campaign against Hamas, Israeli warplanes targeted tunnels and underground bunkers in the northern Gaza Strip, as announced by the Israeli military on Saturday. This marks a new stage in the ongoing conflict, which intensified following Hamas’s incursion into southern Israel three weeks ago.
Fighter jets conducted strikes on numerous underground targets, delivering a severe blow to the capabilities of the militant group. In addition to these attacks, Israel also disrupted communications, causing a near-total blackout of information flow, effectively isolating the 2.3 million people in besieged Gaza from the outside world.
Explosions from the continuous airstrikes illuminated the night sky over Gaza City for hours after nightfall on Friday, underscoring the intensity of the offensive. The Palestinian telecom provider, Paltel, reported that the bombardment led to the “complete disruption” of internet, cellular, and landline services. This communication blackout has made it challenging to ascertain casualties from the strikes and the extent of ground incursions in real-time. Some satellite phones remained functional but were limited in their reach.
With electricity already scarce due to previous disruptions, the population in Gaza has been grappling with darkness for weeks. This latest assault further compounds their hardship, leaving them isolated and with dwindling food and water supplies. Attempts to establish contact with Gaza residents via phone have largely been unsuccessful as of early Saturday.
The Israeli military’s intensified operations, including targeting underground infrastructure, raise concerns about the humanitarian impact on the civilian population in Gaza. The situation remains highly volatile, and the international community closely monitors developments in the region, with a growing focus on the urgent need for a ceasefire to mitigate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.