The Palestinian Telecommunications Company, known as Paltel, reported Wednesday that the Gaza Strip no longer has access to communications or Internet services.

The region first experienced communication outages on October 27, following heavy bombing and ground operations by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). After this, Paltel affirmed that its team was working “tirelessly and relentlessly” to restore connections after the Israel-Hamas war escalated with the deployment of IDF ground forces to attack Hamas targets last week. Elon Musk, CEO of the high-speed Internet service Starlink, stated on October 28 that the company would “support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza.” Notably, Musk previously withheld some Starlink Internet access to Ukrainian forces that were alleged to be used for a surprise attack against Russia in September.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on the effects of the Internet blackouts, specifically the increased harm individuals with disabilities face when fleeing the Gaza Strip. Without Internet access, people searching for the safest passage now lack critical information when making this decision, HRW says. The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) stated that they have 149 shelters open with almost 700,000 people displaced due to the ongoing conflict, causing health and safety concerns. This follows a claim by the Palestinian Ministry of Health from last week that its health system is collapsing, citing overcrowded hospitals and shortages of medical supplies.

Not only have Internet communications been cut off, but the UN shared that almost all of Northern Gaza has been isolated from the rest of the area due to constant fighting. Many fear this will greatly hinder the ability to get life-saving aid to those in need.