Israel ramps up attacks on Gaza amid communications blackout : 9 updates

October 28, 2023 at 9:05 AM

  • Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has intensified after the military says its ground forces are “expanding operations” into the territory.
  • Huge explosions were seen in the territory, with Israeli warplanes carrying out heavy strikes
  • Hamas says clashes have taken place in northern Gaza – reports say some Israeli troops and tanks have entered
  • International media and aid agencies say they lost contact with staff in Gaza amid a near-total communications blackout.
  • Communication networks are down, meaning residents in Gaza can’t be contacted
  • The UN General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce, with 120 states voting for a resolution put forward by Jordan
  • Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are taking emergency cases only, the UN says, amid fears fuel supplies will run out across the territory in the coming hours.
  • UN facilities are also overwhelmed by 600,000 displaced Palestinians seeking shelter – four times their capacity.
  • Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and saw 229 people kidnapped as hostages
  • The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 7,000 people have been killed since Israel’s retaliatory bombing began

(Sources : BBC & AlJazeera)