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

The announcement signaled a breakdown in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, the first phase of which expired Saturday with no clear next steps.

Hamas announced the start of a new round of ceasefire negotiations with Israel on Tuesday evening, expressing optimism that the talks could lead to “tangible progress” toward the second phase of discussions. Senior Hamas official Abdel Rahman Shadid made these remarks in a statement published on the movement’s official digital platforms.

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 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 urges international community to pressure Israel to open Gaza crossings, allow entry of life-saving humanitarian aid - Anadolu Ajansı

Israel halts Gaza aid after Hamas rejects a 50-day hostage deal extension. Airstrikes in Beit Lahiya kill nine, including three journalists. Hamas calls it a blatant ceasefire violation Efforts to extend a fragile ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas suffered a major setback this weekend,

Hamas said it would only release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements the existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, calling it an “exceptional deal” aimed at getting the truce back on track.