The United States has put forward a new proposal that would secure the release of a handful of living hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a month-long extension of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, a source familiar with the negotiations said.

The two sides are supposed to negotiate a second phase of the cease-fire agreement that would end the war, but they remain far apart on how to move forward.

Hamas on Friday said it agreed to release American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other Americans, following a proposal from mediators to resume negotiations with Israel over a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.