The negotiations focused on freeing Edan Alexander, the only American Israeli hostage still believed to be alive, and the bodies of four other U.S.-Israeli dual citizens who were kidnapped and taken to Gaza in the October 2023 attack, officials told The New York Times.

New tensions between Israel and Hamas are raising doubts about prospects for second phase of cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza.

Hamas said on Thursday that U.S. President Trump's repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and intensify the siege and starvation on Gazans.

Hamas said President Donald's Trump's ultimatum to the group to release its remaining hostages only encourages the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu towards a more radical approach to Gaza.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday Israel was ready to proceed to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, as long as Hamas was ready to release more of the 59 hostages it is still holding.

A tense cease-fire between Israel and Hamas continued to hold amid a stalemate over an Israeli block on humanitarian aid going into Gaza after Hamas rejected a U.S. proposed extension.