Total Internet Blackout Expands Across Gaza, Threatening Complete Telecommunications Collapse

12 June 2025 – Gaza is now enduring its third consecutive day of a total communications crisis. The blackout began on 10 June with the targeting of the main fiber backbone connecting Gaza City and North Gaza, resulting in a full collapse of internet and landline services in those areas. As of 12 June, the damage has spread across the central and southern governorates, following the destruction of the last remaining fiber route, as confirmed by the Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

Today, Gaza faces a complete shutdown of all internet and fixed-line communications across the entire Strip. Mobile services remain barely operational but are under severe strain and risk imminent failure. No redundancy remains in Gaza’s telecom infrastructure, meaning there are no backup routes or systems left to absorb the collapse. Close sources confirm to 7amleh that telecommunications providers cannot carry out essential repairs due to a lack of replacement materials caused by the ongoing blockade, and systematic obstruction by Israeli forces, who are preventing access to damaged infrastructure and denying entry to needed equipment.

Telecom repair staff are also working under severe personal risk. Over 78% of the Gaza Strip has been declared by Israeli forces as areas subject to forcible evacuation orders or active combat operations. Telecom teams must coordinate with international agencies to safely access damaged areas, but at present no permissions are being granted. Entering these zones without protection could result in injury or death.

This escalating crisis is having catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Over 2 million people in Gaza are now digitally isolated. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, “We are facing serious difficulty in communicating with our teams in the Gaza Strip due to a complete shutdown of internet and landline services following the direct targeting of telecommunications lines by occupation forces. Our emergency operations room is struggling to coordinate with other organizations to respond to urgent humanitarian cases.”

This is not a technical failure. It is a deliberate strategy of digital erasure and forced isolation, part of a broader campaign of displacement, domination, and dehumanization. As the crisis worsens, demand is surging for e-SIMs and other emergency connectivity tools, used by civilians and journalists at immense personal risk to connect to weak signals near border zones.

7amleh urgently calls on the international community, humanitarian agencies, and telecommunications regulators to treat this blackout as a critical emergency. Immediate international intervention is needed to restore connectivity in Gaza, facilitate safe repair access, and uphold the right to communicate, without which no humanitarian response can succeed.

#ReconnectGaza