Israel has damaged communication lines in the Gaza Strip, imposing a complete information blackout on the besieged territory, Palestinian reports say.

The communication lockdown occurred late on Tuesday after Israeli bulldozers working in the Nahal Oz region close to the border with the Gaza Strip cut all mobile, landline and Internet connections with the strip.

Based on reports, all efforts to reach residents in the Hamas-run Palestinian region from abroad have been unsuccessful.

Palestinian telecommunications officials blamed Israeli military bulldozers for damaging fiber optic lines into Gaza, but an Israeli military spokesman has denied any role in the incident.

The Palestinian telecoms network, PalTel, which needs permits from Israeli authorities to repair the lines, says it has not received them yet.

The Israeli regime laid an economic siege on the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after the democratically-elected government of Hamas took over the administration of the strip.

Israel also denies some 1.5 million people in Gaza their basic rights, including the freedom of movement and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

Source: Palestine Chronicle