Hamas said it’s willing to release a living American hostage and four bodies of other dual nationals from Gaza, a surprise move the group said would advance ceasefire talks, though was treated with suspicion by Israel.

As Hamas on Friday offered to release American Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and the remains of four other hostages held in Gaza, Israel's prime minister called it psychological manipulation.

Hamas said on Friday it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

The militant group did not immediately specify when the release of soldier Edan Alexander and the four bodies would take place.

Hamas said it’s willing to release all US-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 said on Friday it agreed to release an American-Israeli dual national, believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, after receiving a proposal from mediators to continue negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal.

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.