Israel's military says troops have "begun pushing into the heart of Gaza City," renewing its call for thousands of war-weary civilians to evacuate.

Terror group claims it demanded a 24-hour lull in airstrikes to move captives to safety; Gaza City clans said to turn down Israeli proposal to form anti-Hamas enclaves The post Hamas says it has lost contact with two hostages amid IDF push into Gaza City appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee Gaza City since Israel launched its ground offensive last week.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops opened fire, killing 17 Palestinians and wounding 33 others while they were attempting to access humanitarian aid in central Gaza, according to nearby Al-Awda Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Israeli strikes in central and southern Gaza killed 14 others, according to local hospitals.

Israeli troops pushed deep into Gaza City on Sunday, ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on ending the war in the Palestinian territory.

Dr Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, who worked in hospitals in Gaza for two years, says Israeli strikes have made conditions "indescribable" for colleagues still there.