For 34 hours, the vast majority of the more than two million Palestinians who live in Gaza had no way to reach the outside world, or one another.
They had no way to know whether their loved ones were alive or dead.
Desperate paramedics tried to save people by driving toward the sound of explosions.
In response to the attacks, the Israeli military declared a siege of the densely populated territory, cutting off electricity, water and medical supplies as it rained down a relentless barrage of aerial and artillery bombardments.
The Israeli military also said that it was conducting airstrikes in Lebanon after at least 16 rockets were launched from there into Israeli territory.
Persons:
Fathi
Locations:
Gaza, United States, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt