Iraqi Sunni Affairs Office calls for support for Gaza amid intense Israeli bombing

Telecommunications, Internet completely cut off in Gaza Strip amid fears of Israeli ground operation

By Ikram Kouachi

ANKARA (AA) — Iraq's Sunni Affairs Office on Friday called on mosques to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza facing intense Israeli bombardment.

"In these moments, our Palestinian brothers are witnessing violent attacks and are subjected to comprehensive destruction and genocide by the Zionist (Israel) occupation forces," the office said in a statement.

It added a call "on all Iraqi mosques to chant 'Allahu Akbar (Allah is great)' via loudspeakers, in support and solidarity with our Palestinian brothers in Gaza."

The Israeli army had announced earlier on Friday that its ground forces would expand activities in the Gaza Strip, a possible signal that a long-feared ground operation was imminent.

Also, communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip were completely cut off amid heavy Israeli bombing of feeder lines, towers, and networks.

Ooredoo Palestine, a mobile network operator in the West Bank, said its cellphone services were completely cut off from the Gaza Strip.

Kaynak: