Internet access and the phone network were completely cut across the Gaza Strip on Friday, amid intense Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

The government of the militant group Hamas accused Israel of taking the measure “to perpetrate massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land and sea.”

AFP journalists in Gaza confirmed they were only able to communicate in limited areas where they could connect to Israeli networks across the border.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the “disruption affects the central emergency number 101 and hinders the arrival of ambulance vehicles to the wounded” in the ongoing strikes.

The organisation said it was “deeply concerned” about its medics’ ability to continue providing care, as well as staff safety.

“We have completely lost contact with the operations room in the Gaza Strip and all our teams operating there,” it said on X, formerly Twitter.

The communications shutdown was confirmed by Palestinian telecoms provider Jawwal.

Here are the latest updates

• At least 7,326 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7; More than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel.
• More than 1 million Palestinian children and their parents are living through “pure horror” in the besieged enclave, says humanitarian group Save the Children.
• International media and aid agencies say they lost contact with staff in Gaza amid a near-total communications blackout.
• Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has intensified after the military said its ground forces are “expanding operations” into the territory.
• Hamas says its fighters have confronted Israeli troops in various locations.