Israeli warplanes have tonight unleashed airstrikes of ‘unprecedented’ intensity across all parts of the Gaza strip.
The aerial onslaught, which observers described as much more ferocious and louder than previous days, coincided with electricity and communications blackouts in much of the besieged enclave, sparking fears that a full-scale Israeli ground invasion could be imminent.
According to one report the Israelis even unleashed ‘bunker buster’ concussion missiles to try and destroy the extensive Hamas tunnel network under Gaza.
Israel’s military appears to confirmed the reports, with IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari telling reporters at a press conference today: ‘In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza.
‘The air force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly.
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‘In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening.’
Israel has stepped up its bombing campaign against Gaza
Gaza has been bombed nonstop for nearly three straight weeks
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari (pictured) said a press conference today: ‘In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza. The air force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly’
The Hamas government said Israel ‘cut communications and most of the internet’ across the Gaza Strip as a result of the increased bombardment.
Hamas’ media office accused Israel of taking the measure ‘to perpetrate massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land and sea,’ as heavy strikes hit northern Gaza.
Palestinian telecoms provider Jawwal announced ‘the total cut of all communication services and internet’ in the territory.
Global internet monitor NetBlocks reported ‘a collapse in connectivity in the Gaza Strip with high impact to Paltel,’ Jawwal’s owner, citing live network data.
Hamas accused Israel of increasing its missile strikes to ‘perpetrate massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land and sea’
Gaza has tonight been bombed by Israeli airplanes, following an increased bombardment campaign by the IDF
The strikes have almost completely Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure
‘The company is the last remaining major operator to supply service as connectivity declines amid ongoing fighting with Israel,’ NetBlocks wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
NGO’s have claimed the move may be deadly for Gazan citizens, with the Palestinian Red Crescent, the main emergency service in Gaza, said it was cut off from its operations room in the strip because of the internet blackout.
It said in a statement: ‘We are deeply concerned about the ability of our teams to continue providing their emergency medical services, especially since this disruption affects the central emergency number ‘101’ and hinders the arrival of ambulance vehicles to the wounded and injured.’
ActionAid, an NGO that works to alleviate poverty across the world, said it was gravely concerned that it has lost contact with its team in Gaza.
The charity said in a statement: ‘We are gravely concerned for their safety and that of all the people of Gaza as signs grow of a major land escalation following almost three weeks of bombardment.
The Palestinian death toll passed 7,300 as Israel launched waves of airstrikes
NGOs have already said that Israel’s latest bombardment campaign may be deadly for Gazans
Several NGOs have said they cannot communicate with their Gazan colleagues
The IDF said tonight it was expanding its bombardment campaign against Gaza
‘We urgently call for the restoration of communication channels, as this is not only a matter of principle but also one of practical necessity.’
Oxfam said it was ‘deeply concerned’ with tonight’s developments in Gaza, ‘especially the total loss of communication’ in the Strip.
The NGO called for a ceasefire ‘to protect innocent lives.’
The IDF said tonight it was expanding its bombardment campaign against Gaza, and was ‘working powerfully in all dimensions’ to achieve its military goals.
It was not clear whether this was a threat of a full invasion or a bigger but similar ‘probe’ to those launched on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with the troops returning by dawn.
Former General Wesley Clark, former NATO Allied Commander told CNN he believed the operation was a preparatory ‘softening up’ operation, rather than the full-scale invasion, adding that each probe yielded vital intelligence about how the Hamas defenders reacted.
Former General Wesley Clark, former NATO Allied Commander told CNN he believed the operation was a preparatory ‘softening up’ operation
Israel says it is expanding its ground operation tonight
Witnesses said the Israeli forces unleashed artillery and tank fire on Gaza as well as the ‘unprecedented’ airstrikes
Witnesses said the Israeli forces unleashed artillery and tank fire on Gaza as well as the ‘unprecedented’ airstrikes.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari highlighted the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier today, claiming that it was being used as a Hamas command and control facility and added: ‘we continue with our efforts to identify and intercept terrorist cells all the time.’
Hamas denied they were using the hospital.
The new upsurge against Gaza in violence came as the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urgently appealed for more aid deliveries to be allowed through to Gaza from Egypt.
‘The humanitarian system in Gaza is facing a total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians,’ Guterres said in a statement.
In the occupied West Bank, more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids since the war’s start three weeks ago
More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack
The Palestinian death toll passed 7,300 as Israel launched waves of airstrikes in response to the bloody Hamas rampage in southern Israel on October 7.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which tracks the toll, released a detailed list, including names and ID numbers on Thursday.
In the occupied West Bank, more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids since the war’s start three weeks ago.
More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack.
In addition, 229 people, including foreigners, children and older adults, were taken by Hamas during the incursion and remain in captivity in Gaza.So far, four hostages were released earlier.
More to follow.