Gaza: Internet blackout ends but crisis shows no sign of easing
An internet blackout and phone service disruptions began to ease in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip, Middle East Eye reported via Wafa news agency on June 21st.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) confirmed that connections have also resumed in the central and southern areas. A three-day outage followed Israeli attacks that damaged key infrastructure. TRC praised telecom workers for restoring services despite dangerous conditions.
However, Gaza’s communications sector is still facing a crisis. Disruptions continue to affect healthcare, education, and humanitarian operations. TRC called for protection for technicians and stressed the need for safer conditions to ensure service stability in the enclave.
On June 12th, Al Jazeera reported, as cited by Maghrebi, that Gaza plunged into digital isolation as an internet blackout and communication services shutdown gripped the besieged enclave.
The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority blamed the blackout on the systematic targeting of communications infrastructure by Israeli forces, warning that it risks cutting Gaza off from the world.
This comes amid escalating violence that killed at least 42 Palestinians in a single day. The internet blackout severely hindered emergency response, aid coordination, and reporting from the ground.
Previously, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service was activated at a Gaza hospital, as reported by Reuters on July 24th 2024. The United Arab Emirates and Israel supported this effort. The high-speed connection aimed to assist medical staff with real-time video consultations. Many hospitals have struggled due to poor connectivity during the ongoing conflict.
Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye via Wafa, Reuters, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
