Israeli armored units are making advances in Tal al-Hawa, Sabra, and other districts within Gaza City amid their ongoing ground offensive.
Published On 28 Sep 2025
Hamas has issued a stark alert regarding the safety of two hostages held within Gaza City, as Israeli armored forces intensify their push into multiple neighborhoods of the densely populated area, where tens of thousands of Palestinians remain trapped amid relentless ground assaults and aerial bombardments.
The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military faction, reported on Sunday that communication has been severed with the fighters guarding Omri Miran and Matan Angrest following intense military clashes and targeted strikes in the Sabra and Tal al-Hawa districts over the past two days.
They warned, “The captives’ lives are gravely threatened. The occupying forces must immediately retreat south of Road 8 and suspend all air operations for a 24-hour period starting at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT) to facilitate a safe extraction effort.”
Earlier this month, Hamas circulated a “final photograph” of the hostages in Gaza, aiming to pressure the Israeli military as it continues its systematic destruction of Gaza City and forces mass displacement of a starving population.
According to Israeli sources, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 confirmed alive. Despite mounting accusations of genocide and growing public outcry from Israeli families demanding a comprehensive resolution to end the conflict and secure the release of captives, the Israeli government has maintained its military campaign.
These families’ appeals have largely been ignored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right administration, which faces increasing criticism for prolonging the hostages’ ordeal.
Hamas’s political leadership stated on Sunday that no fresh ceasefire or peace initiatives have been received from mediators Qatar and Egypt, even as U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly forecasts an imminent ceasefire, a prediction he has made several times in recent weeks.
The group confirmed that talks remain stalled following an Israeli assassination attempt on senior Hamas officials in Doha on September 9, during a meeting convened to discuss a new ceasefire proposal put forth by Trump.
Nonetheless, Hamas expressed willingness to consider any proposals from their allied mediators with a constructive and responsible approach that safeguards the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, prominent far-right Israeli ministers voiced opposition on Sunday to Trump’s 21-point peace plan and any agreement that would conclude the war before Hamas is decisively defeated.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared on X, “Prime Minister, you lack the authority to end this war without a conclusive victory over Hamas.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich asserted he would “never consent to a Palestinian state-regardless of the difficulties, costs, or time required.”
Since the conflict erupted in October 2023, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that over 66,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
On Sunday alone, numerous Palestinians perished due to airstrikes, shelling, or while seeking humanitarian aid, including a child in the Sabra neighborhood. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis also reported the death of an infant caused by malnutrition and insufficient medical care.
Israeli forces are steadily advancing toward al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, once the largest medical facility in the region, now largely devastated after multiple previous sieges.
Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the hospital’s director, affirmed on Sunday that his staff remains dedicated to keeping the hospital operational for as long as possible, providing refuge to patients and displaced civilians.
