The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) split the Gaza Strip into two after the ground troops completed their encirclement of Gaza City.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said during an evening press conference that "today there is north Gaza and south Gaza." He noted that troops led by the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, part of the 36th Division, had "reached the coastline and are holding it." Hagari added that the military was carrying out widespread strikes on terror infrastructure, below ground and above it.
This comes as the IDF carried out expansive airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in snapping of all telecommunication systems. Palestinian communications company Paltel said all of its communication and internet services were down once again. Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org confirmed that communications were curtailed across the besieged enclave.
Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, confirmed that the agency has lost communication with most of its team.
The IDF jets also struck a house near a school at the crowded Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. At least 13 people were killed, hospital workers said.
Dozens of residents scrambled to remove the wounded and dead trapped under the rubble. Young men rushed carrying the wounded to ambulances near the school, which took them to Al-Aqsa Hospital. Hospital workers told The Associated Press that at least 13 people died.
The Bureij refugee camp is home to an estimated 46,000 people. Many Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza have stayed in refugee camps and schools as temporary shelters.
Jordan airdrops aid
Medical aid was airdropped into Gaza by a Jordanian military cargo aircraft, the kingdom's leader announced on social media early Monday.
King Abdullah II said the aid reached the Jordanian field hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. "This is our duty to aid our brothers and sisters injured in the war on Gaza," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
King Abdullah II has recalled its ambassador to Israel and told Israel's envoy not to return to Jordan until the Gaza crisis was over. However, there are reports that the Jordanian airdrop of medical aid into Gaza was coordinated with Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Ramon Air Force base in southern Israel on Sunday and reiterated his opposition to a cease-fire in Gaza. "There will be no cease-fire without the return of our hostages. We say this to both our enemies and our friends. We will continue until we beat them," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
