Hamas’s armed wing has urged Israel to pause air strikes and withdraw troops from parts of Gaza City, saying it has lost contact with two Israeli hostages during recent intensified military operations. The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades stressed that the hostages’ lives were in grave danger and demanded a 24-hour halt in air raids to allow rescue efforts starting Sunday evening without further disruptions.
The group explained that communication was lost following Israel’s heavy bombardment and ground operations in southern Gaza City neighbourhoods, where fighting has intensified over the past 48 hours. Hamas stated that these actions made it extremely difficult to secure hostages’ safety, forcing the group to issue an urgent appeal for operational pauses to regain control of the situation.
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In the past, Hamas has faced similar difficulties, including the case of an Israeli-American hostage with whom contact was lost during military clashes before eventually being released days later. This ongoing pattern underscores the risks created when heavy offensives continue in densely populated areas while hostages remain trapped in uncertain and life-threatening circumstances.
At the same time, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that 38 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday alone, including 14 in Gaza City. Civilian casualties have been rising steadily as Israel continues its campaign, and global criticism has increased sharply. Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted at the United Nations that Israel would “finish the job” against Hamas despite mounting international pressure.
The conflict began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, which killed 1,219 Israelis, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israeli authorities say 47 remain in Gaza today, with 25 already confirmed dead. Meanwhile, Israel’s military response has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, sparking widespread concern.
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This latest call from Hamas reflects the dangerous balance between military offensives and hostage safety, highlighting how continued escalation risks further humanitarian disaster. The growing death toll and unresolved hostage crisis continue to fuel regional instability, leaving little hope of a breakthrough or relief for civilians trapped in the ongoing war.