The US has accused Hamas of privately making "impractical" demands while publicly backing a plan to extend the Gaza ceasefire. Washington wants the release of a US-Israel citizen and the bodies of four other hostages.

The Palestinian militant group said in a statement Friday it has accepted a new proposal by mediators of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, agreeing to release one living American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostage dual nationals who died in captivity.

Hamas said it would release Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander if Israel started the next phase of ceasefire talks.

A senior Hamas official said talks over the ceasefire's second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days. Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid.

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 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 said Friday it agreed to release U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other Americans, following a proposal from mediators to resume