Telecom service partially restored in Gaza after limited fuel entry

By Mohamed Khubeisah

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) -Communications and internet services have been partially restored in the Gaza Strip, a telecom service said late Friday.

Paltel said in a statement that service partially returned after the entry of a limited quantity of fuel through the UN refugee agency, UNRWA.

“The continuity of services depends on providing sufficient quantities of fuel on a regular basis,” it said.

Mobile network operator, Ooredoo Palestine, confirmed the partial return of the telecom service.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ishaq Sidr said fuel was allowed into Gaza in response to international appeals.

He, however, warned of another interruption in case of failure to allow in the needed fuel to operate the network.

Since Israel started bombarding Gaza on Oct. 7, more than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 8,300 women and children, and more than 30,000 others have been injured, according to the latest figures.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a small trickle.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.