”The al-Qassam brigades (Hamas' armed branch) hereby announce that contact with two captured has been broken due to the brutal military interventions and violent attacks in the Sabra and Tel al-Hawa neighborhoods during the last 48 hours", the movement says in a statement.
The areas mentioned belong to Gaza City, where Israel has intensified its offensive in order to take military control over the city.
48 people are still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. According to the latest information, 20 of these are believed to be alive.
