Bombarded Gazans Search for Loved Ones as Blackout Eases

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA – Residents of Gaza reached out for news of their loved ones as communications gradually resumed following a significant blackout, attributed to the ongoing military actions as Israeli troops advanced into the Hamas-controlled territory.

The United Nations has issued grave warnings about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, emphasizing that Palestinians are facing acute food shortages and that civil order is fracturing after three weeks of conflict and a siege on the densely populated coastal area.

The violence escalated significantly on Friday night when Israeli forces intensified ground operations in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized this as the second phase of the campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas.

Shaban Ahmed, an engineer and father of five, described the attacks as apocalyptic. He recounted learning of his cousin’s death in an airstrike on Friday, revealing the strain of staying in Gaza City despite evacuation warnings. "We only found out today. Israel cut us off from the world to erase us, but we hear the explosions and are proud of the resistance fighters holding their ground," Ahmed stated.

Israel’s military has not confirmed whether it was responsible for the telecommunications blackout but stressed its commitment to safeguarding its troops. Airstrikes have relentlessly targeted Gaza City since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,400 Israelis—marking the deadliest day in the country’s history.

Ahmed detailed the continuous barrage of air, sea, and ground strikes that lasted for hours on Friday. In response, Hamas proclaimed its ongoing resistance against Israeli forces engaged in ground operations.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, the death toll since October 7 has surpassed 8,000. Amidst the severe chaos, many Palestinians find themselves searching desperately for loved ones. One mother, standing amid debris in Gaza City, lamented, "I don’t know where he is."

In another neighborhood, as people searched for survivors from the latest airstrikes, they unearthed bodies from the rubble, with smoke filling the air and cries of distress echoing around them. The internet and telecommunications outages have forced many to rely on outdated radios for updates, as this has become the sole source of news amidst the most intense airstrikes in Gaza’s history.

Emergency services are overwhelmed, with ambulances unable to respond to calls, leading injured individuals to depend on volunteers for transportation to medical facilities. The airstrikes have predominantly targeted northern Gaza, including the city itself, and while residents in the south hear the distant blasts, they remain cut off from relatives in the affected areas.

One resident, Um Yehia, described the isolation: "Gaza is cut off from the rest of the world. Strikes are occurring all around us, and we have no way to reach those impacted." Gaza resident Bilal Abu Mostafa, whose barbershop was demolished two weeks ago, has taken refuge in a hospital where medical staff are struggling to keep up with the influx of casualties. He repurposed a damaged ambulance into a makeshift barbershop, offering haircuts to those unable to leave due to severe injuries.

Aid delivery to Gaza has been severely restricted since Israel commenced its bombing campaign following the Hamas attacks. This lack of communication has made it increasingly challenging for aid organizations to operate amidst escalating shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported receiving 10 trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies from Egypt, marking a small step in relief efforts, though the conditions remain dire. In a troubling sign of civil unrest, thousands of residents have broken into warehouses of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, seizing essential items like flour.

An Israeli official indicated plans to significantly increase humanitarian aid to Gaza in the coming days, reiterating calls for civilians to relocate to designated "humanitarian" zones in southern Gaza.

Kholoud Qdeih, along with 20 family members, currently resides in the basement of a building in Khan Younis after moving from the border area. Though she lost a son in a past conflict, she remains resolute. "We will remain steadfast in our land, no matter the circumstances. We will not repeat the mistakes of our forebears in 1948. Our home is here, and that’s where we will stay."