GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate on Saturday warned of Israeli “massacres” against reporters in the Gaza Strip amid internet and communication blackouts.

“More than 24 journalists and dozens of their families were already killed and dozens of journalists’ homes and media institutions destroyed,” it said in a statement.

These attacks “are part of a systematic policy and an official decision to intimidate journalists to prevent (Israeli) crimes from being transmitted to the world,” it added.

The Gaza Strip lost all connection to the internet Friday amid ongoing Israeli bombardment, making it even harder for residents of the Palestinian territory to communicate with the outside world.

The Israeli army on Friday widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Hamas.

The conflict escalated dramatically after Hamas’ military wing carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by firing thousands of rockets and sending hundreds of fighters into Israeli towns.

Israel responded with an uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes on the Gaza Strip, and the government announced that it is preparing for a ground offensive to root out Hamas.

More than 8,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, and medicine due to Israel’s massive air bombardment and total blockade of the enclave.