Palestine's envoy to France denounces 'genocide' in Gaza amid intensified Israeli operations

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – The Palestinian ambassador to France denounced the "genocide" in the Gaza Strip on Friday amid intensified Israeli military operations in the enclave.

"Genocide happening now in #gaza. Shame will be eternal on those who gave and still give israel the approval to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity ! Eternal shame!" Hala Abou-Hassira wrote on X, vowing that Palestine "will not forget and will not forgive."

Communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip were completely cut late Friday amid heavy Israeli bombing of feeder lines, towers, and networks, according to the Palestine Telecommunications Company.

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

The conflict in Gaza began Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group, Hamas, initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys recently allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.

Nearly 8,800 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis. Some 70% of the deaths in Gaza are women and children, according to official figures.​​​​​​​