Topline
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the organization “lost touch” with staff, health facilities and humanitarian partners on the ground in Gaza following the collapse of internet and phone services in the region, which is still being hammered by Israeli strikes.
The Israel-Hamas conflcit has gone on for nearly three weeks as of Friday. (AP Photo/Mohammed … [+]
Key Facts
Tedros added in the post that the “siege” against Gaza makes him “gravely concerned” for the safety of humanitarian staff members and the “immediate health risks of vulnerable patients.”
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund also lost contact with its colleagues in Gaza, according to a statement from the agency’s executive director, Catherine Russell.
Israeli bombardments on Gaza caused “a complete disruption of all communication and internet services,” telecommunications company Paltel told the Associated Press.
The Red Crescent, a humanitarian agency, said all landline, cellular and internet communications collapsed and that it lost contact with its medical teams and operations room, saying it feared people would lose contact to ambulance services.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said ground forces were “expanding their activity” in Gaza following days of aerial attacks, in a tweet translated by CNBC.
Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters it would “take a long time” to handle the network of tunnels operated by Hamas as Israeli forces prod the outskirts of Gaza City.
Key Background
Israel agreed Wednesday to delay its anticipated ground invasion of Gaza at the request of the U.S., which sought to bide more time for defenses to be put into place for American troops in the Middle East, according to the Wall Street Journal. Specifically, the Pentagon wanted to set up air-defense systems to protect troops in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and more following attacks on U.S. Navy ships. The Palestinian death toll has risen past 7,000, according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, which published the names Thursday of the thousands killed in Gaza, seemingly in response to President Joe Biden’s doubt about the death toll in the region. More than 1,400 people were killed in Hamas’ initial attack on Israel nearly three weeks ago, which sparked the ongoing war, while around 200 hostages were taken into Gaza, according to the Associated Press.
Big Number
More than $100 billion. That’s how much money Biden has requested from Congress to support Israel, Ukraine and other national security matters, with $61 billion of the package designated for Ukraine and its ongoing war against Russia, CNBC reported.
Tangent
The U.S. launched airstrikes on two facilities in Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Thursday following orders from Biden. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Friday the strikes were done out of self-defense, telling reporters the U.S. was attempting to strike at the ability for the guard corps. and affiliated groups to arm themselves.
Further Reading
Israeli army says ground forces ‘expanding their activity’ in Gaza (Associated Press)
Israel Delays Invasion, Report Says—U.S. Has Pressed For More Time (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/gaza-experiences-communications-blackout-as-israel-expands-ground-force-activity/