Hamas says it has accepted a proposal from mediators to release one living American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four dual-nationals, hostages who had died in captivity.

The offer to release the American hostage appears to be an effort to pressure Israel into starting discussions over a second phase to the ceasefire in Gaza.

Hamas said it’s willing to release all American-Israeli hostages, including one still alive, in a surprise move dismissed by both Israel and the US as unhelpful to negotiation efforts to end the war.

Hamas says it has accepted a proposal from mediators to release a living American Israeli hostage and the bodies of four dual nationals. Israel expresses immediate doubt.