Complete Internet & Landline Outage Hits Gaza After Main Fiber Line Was Targeted
Published: June 12, 2025 – Category: Gaza
🕒 What Just Happened?
The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced a total outage of all Internet and fixed‑line communication services across the Gaza Strip about an hour ago. This followed an Israeli airstrike that destroyed the **last main fiber-optic route** connecting Gaza to external networks :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
📍 Who Is Affected & How Widespread
The blackout is affecting all regions—northern Gaza, Gaza City, and the south. It's the **second consecutive day** of communications isolation, with no mobile service or landlines operational :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. TRA described the incident as a “systematic attack” on vital infrastructure.
⚠️ Dire Humanitarian Impact
- Emergency services & health care: Ambulances, hospitals, and clinics can’t coordinate due to loss of digital communications :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Humanitarian aid: NGOs and international agencies are unable to share updates or schedule aid convoys :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
- Remote learning & banking: Students, teachers, and remote workers lose access to online classes and financial services :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
- Information blackout: Citizen journalists and residents cannot report bombings, dangers, or coordinate evacuations :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
🚧 Why It Happened & Disruption of Repairs
The TRA confirmed that the Israelis bombed the **final fiber connection**, and **blocked repair crews from accessing the damage sites**. Efforts to activate backup or alternative routes earlier in the conflict have now failed :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}. Over the past year alone, Gaza has experienced multiple telecom shutdowns—some lasting over five days :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
📢 Calls for Immediate International Action
Digital-rights advocates like Access Now and the NetBlocks network watchdog argue that using internet blackouts as a weapon of war is unacceptable. They've urged a rapid “physical and digital ceasefire” and demanded that repair teams be allowed safe access :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
📌 What This Means for Gazans
This deliberate digital isolation cuts off over 2.3 million people from the world. Local reports say around 10 % are sustaining connectivity through **eSIMs** supplied by the Egyptian NGO “Connecting Humanity.” Yet high costs and limited coverage make it an insufficient solution :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
📎 Related Coverage:
Sources: WAFA, Access Now, NetBlocks, Connecting Humanity, Al‑Shabaka