As part of Israel's preparations in response to Iranian retaliation following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior Hezbollah official Fouad Shukr in the suburbs of Beirut, and amid fears of damage to and collapse of communication infrastructure, Israel has distributed satellite phones to its government ministers to ensure operational continuity in the event of a cellular network collapse scenario.
Yossi Shelly, the executive director of the Prime Minister's Office, requested during a meeting held yesterday, Thursday, to ensure that the phones are supported by diesel generators, but he also urged "not to spread panic." Some ministers received the devices, while others were instructed to purchase them immediately.
Certain government offices had anticipated this matter in advance and had acquired satellite phones for senior management as well. During a meeting between the executive director of the Prime Minister's Office and the executives of government ministries, everyone was asked to ensure that their mobile phones were supported by generators and that their diesel fuel tanks were full. In religious schools, instructions were issued to do everything possible to ensure continuity of telephone communication via wireless means. Senior civil service officials also received satellite phones.
