Internet Services Gradually Return To Gaza As Israel Announces 'Next Stage' Of War: Top Points NNDU TIMES

Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Defence Forces have launched a ground offensive attack in the Gaza Strip against Hamas terrorists, upping their assault to the ‘second stage’ with PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to end the Palestinian militant group. The health system struggled with an internet blackout, which is now being gradually restored. According to Reuters, Netanyahu has pledged to spare no effort to free over 200 hostages, that includes Americans and other foreign nationals.

“This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear – to destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home,” Netanyahu said, adding “We are only at the start…We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground,” as quoted by Reuters.

Top Points In Ongoing Israel-Hamas War

The Palestine Telecommunications Company Paltel said that landline, mobile and internet services are now gradually being restored. In a post on X, the company said its technical teams “are diligently addressing the damage to the internal network infrastructure under challenging conditions”.

Residents of besieged Gaza faced a ‘near-total’ communications and internet blackout as Israeli military warplanes dropped bombs and its troops. Billionaire Elon Musk meanwhile offered his SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to back communications in the enclave for “internationally recognised aid organisations.” Israel responded that it would fight the move, saying Hamas would “use it for terrorist activities.”

Musk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, there was no clarity over who has authority for ground links in Gaza, but they do know that “no terminal has requested a connection in that area”.

Israel’s communication minister Shlomo Karhi responded to Musk’s post and said: “HAMAS will use it for terrorist activities,” Karhi wrote. “Perhaps Musk would be willing to condition it with the release of our abducted babies, sons, daughters, elderly people. All of them! By then, my office will cut any ties with starlink.”

International relief agencies have said the communication blockage is hampering the already desperate humanitarian situation on the ground. “A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Saudi Arabia has condemned and denounced the ground operations into Gaza, adding it “threatens” the lives of Palestinian civilians, resulting in “inhumane dangers”. “The Kingdom warns of the danger of continuing to carry out these flagrant and unjustified violations that are contrary to international law against the Palestinian people and the serious repercussions they will have on regional and international peace and security,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a post on X.

Netanyahu met with hostages’ families on Saturday and said contacts to secure their release would continue despite a ground offensive. He said, as per Reuters, that military pressure on Hamas could help bring the hostages home.

Hamas’ armed wing has said its fighters would battle in northeastern and central Gaza. “Al-Qassam Brigades and all Palestinian resistance forces are fully prepared to confront the aggression with full force and thwart the incursions,” it said.

The United States and other Western countries earlier urged Israel to hold off on launching the planned ground offensive fearing high Palestinian casualties. The West has sought more time for strategisiing hostage negotiations also.

Meanwhile, many pro-Palestinian protests are being organised across many countries including the US where New York’s Brooklyn Bridge has been temporarily closed.

Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed thousands of supporters at a pro-Palestinian rally calling Israeli actions “war crimes”. He said: “Israel has been openly committing war crimes for 22 days, but the Western leaders cannot even call on Israel for a ceasefire, let alone react to it,” Erdogan told the crowd in Istanbul, who waved Palestinian flags.