Hamas announced on Sunday that it had lost contact with two Israeli captives, Omri Miran and Matan Angrest, attributing the disruption to Israel’s heavy shelling of Gaza City. The group called for a 24-hour cessation of strikes to allow the hostages to be moved to safety.

For Israel, Gaza City represents the final urban stronghold of Hamas, and its forces have maintained relentless ground and aerial operations since August. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, and the constant explosions are forcing civilians into desperate flight. Those remaining face a grim dilemma: leave and risk being targeted en route, or stay under bombardment with few shelters to protect them.

Attempts at diplomacy remain stalled. Hamas reports no new mediator proposals and says negotiations have been on hold since an August attack in Doha. This contrasts with recent claims from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested last Friday that a deal was imminent, following reports of a detailed 21-point plan.

Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Hospitals, especially in Deir al-Balah and Gaza City, are overflowing; Doctors Without Borders has suspended operations in the city. Bread prices have skyrocketed, with two kilograms costing around $9, and nearly 400,000 people have been displaced since mid-August. Salah al-Din road, a critical artery for movement, remains closed.

Access for aid is increasingly constrained. Only 37% of UNRWA humanitarian requests were approved last week, while no shipments have passed through the Zikim crossing since September 12. Over 1,000 aid trucks have been intercepted in the first three weeks of September, either by civilians or armed actors.

Trapped between the ongoing bombardment and a tightening blockade, Gaza City’s residents face a mounting crisis. Food, medical care, and safe passage are scarce, and the prospects for relief remain bleak as the city becomes the epicentre of both military action and humanitarian distress.