Humanitarian agencies have lost contact with aid workers in Gaza, as the Palestinian enclave faces its third communication blackout of the Israel-Hamas war, according to operators.
Paltel, the telecom company, announced a complete interruption of its telecom and network services in Gaza due to the cut-off of previously reconnected main routes from the Israeli side. This loss of contact with aid workers has affected both the main United Nations agency supporting Palestinians in Gaza and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Here are some of the day’s other major developments:
Israel’s offensive in Gaza: The Israeli military carried out a significant strike on Gaza, targeting Hamas infrastructure both above and underground. Observations from CNN’s team in Sderot, southern Israel, showed explosions and flares in the direction of Gaza. Earlier, the IDF soldiers had reached the coast to encircle Hamas forces and strike targets in Gaza.
Blinken criss-crosses the region: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his diplomatic trip to the Middle East with an unannounced visit to Iraq. He met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, discussing the prevention of conflict escalation in the region. Blinken’s visit to Iraq follows his meetings in Israel, Jordan, and Ramallah.
Tension rising at Lebanon-Israel border: The ongoing strikes between the Israel Defense Forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah have led to civilian casualties in both Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah expressed preparedness for all scenarios, emphasizing the importance of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
IDF accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure: The Israeli military provided evidence of Hamas using civilian infrastructure as shields for its attacks on Israel, including hospitals and children’s playgrounds. However, the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas-controlled government media office in Gaza have rejected these claims.
Unrest at Turkey airport: Pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to storm an air base housing US Air Force troops in southern Turkey, resulting in intervention by the Turkish police using tear gas and water cannons. The protest was organized by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation to demonstrate opposition to the pro-Israel attitude of the United States.
Hostages in Gaza: The Israeli military has reported that Hamas currently holds 240 hostages, although this number may change based on updated intelligence.
