Morning recap: Internet partially restored, while Israel continues intense bombing

Good morning MEE readers. It is now just past 8am in Gaza on the 23rd day of war since 7 October.

After a two-day near communication blackout, internet connectivity was partially restored on Sunday morning, leading to a wave of journalists and social media users in Gaza posting online that they are alive, and Palestinians from around the world getting in touch with their loved ones in the enclave.

However, the partial restoration of the internet will also pave the way to reveal the true death toll that occurred. Since the internet was knocked out on Friday, Israel began the heaviest bombardment of the Gaza Strip so far and also began land incursions into Gaza.

Here's what you may have missed over the past several hours:

• Scores of Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli air strikes across Gaza on Sunday morning. The exact death toll is unclear, with reports of people still trapped under rubble.

• In announcing what he referred to as the second phase of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war would be "long and difficult".

• Tens of thousands of protesters have been holding pro-Palestine rallies across major US cities, including New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Not to mention, for the second time more than 100,000 protesters gathered in London in support of Palestine.

• Israeli forces stormed several cities in the occupied West Bank, including Jenin and Nablus. In the Askar camp near Nablus, Israeli vehicles were met with an explosive device. Several Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Sunday morning.

• The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has said that three of its ambulances are no longer operational due to a lack of fuel, and added that only three percent of Gaza's medical sector needs have been met with the aid that has come in.

• Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is reportedly expected to visit Washington on Monday.

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