U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are slated to meet on Monday in Washington as the Gaza hostage crisis takes a darker turn. Israeli tanks have pushed deeper into Gaza City, intensifying an operation that has left many civilians trapped and raising urgent calls for a ceasefire to rescue hostages.
The military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced it lost contact with two hostages held in Gaza City. They appealed for a 24-hour suspension of air strikes and ground advances to allow safe passage—an offer Israel has effectively rebuffed, signaling no plans to pause its offensive.
An Israeli military statement ordered residents in parts of Gaza City, including the Sabra district, to evacuate. Officials warned that strikes on Hamas targets and the demolition of buildings are imminent if civilians fail to comply with the evacuation order.
Since launching its ground assault, the Israeli military has flattened entire districts and forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into makeshift tent camps. According to Gazas Health Ministry, at least 77 people were killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. Local authorities report being unable to respond to dozens of desperate calls from those trapped under rubble.
Gazas Civil Emergency Service said Israel denied 73 rescue requests submitted through international organizations, preventing medical teams from reaching injured civilians in Gaza City. The Israeli military declined to comment on these denials.
On the humanitarian front, Egypt dispatched a massive aid convoy to the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Nearly 3,000 tonnes of relief supplies, coordinated with the Egyptian Red Crescent, have entered Gaza to address urgent medical and food shortages.
Meanwhile, famine and malnutrition have taken an alarming toll. Gazas health authorities report 422 deaths since the conflict erupted, including 145 children, underscoring the growing humanitarian emergency that international leaders are now confronting at Mondays meeting.
As Trump and Netanyahu prepare for talks, the world watches closely: can diplomatic pressure ease the crisis long enough to save lives, recover hostages, and chart a path toward a more stable future for Gazas residents?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
