Gaza communication blockade could “cover up mass atrocities”

The almost total telecommunications blockade in Gaza creates the danger of covering up “massive atrocities,” the organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Friday, while Israel incessantly bombards the Palestinian territory.

“This information blockade creates the risk of covering up mass atrocities and contributing to impunity for human rights violations.”Deborah Brown, HRW researcher on technology and human rights, said in a statement.

For its part, Amnesty International (AI) claimed to have lost contact with its staff in Gaza.

“This communications blackout means that it will be even more difficult to obtain essential information and evidence about human rights violations and war crimes committed against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and to hear directly from those who suffered the violations.“, AI deplored.

NetBlock, an internet access monitoring service, revealed a “collapse of connectivity in the Gaza Strip”.

According to the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, several United Nations entities lost contact with their teams in Gaza.

Humanitarian operations and hospitalsthey cannot continue without communications“Warned Lynn Hastings, OCHA coordinator, in a statement.

The Palestinian Red Crescent also announced on X, formerly Twitter, that “lost contact with its operational center and all (its) teams in the Gaza Strip, due to the cutting of wireless and cellular communications and the internet by the Israeli authorities”.

“The disturbances affect the central emergency number 101 and make it difficult for ambulances to reach the wounded” in the midst of the attacks, added the Red Crescent, which was “deeply concerned.”” for the ability of its doctors to continue providing care and for the safety of its staff.