Hamas says it will release American Israeli Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other hostages only if Israel implements their cease-fire agreement.

The offer picks up on a key Trump administration goal to try to push Israel into talks on a permanent end to the conflict.

Israeli forces have withdrawn to buffer zones inside Gaza, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza and hundreds of trucks of aid entered daily until Israel cut off supplies to the territory's 2 million people two weeks ago. Hamas is believed to be holding 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others.