The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has expressed its readiness to release an Israeli-American captive and the bodies of four others, after the group and the Israeli regime resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

“Yesterday, a Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the brotherly mediators to resume negotiations,” Hamas said in a statement on Friday.

The movement said its reply “included its agreement to release the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, along with the remains of four others holding dual citizenship”.

Hamas official Taher al-Nounou told AFP that all five are Israeli-Americans.

Hamas, however, said the move is conditional on beginning of the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement towards a permanent end to the genocidal war.

The statement came as a senior Hamas official announced on Tuesday that fresh talks had started in the Qatari capital, Doha, with Israel also sending negotiators.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed over 48,500 Palestinians there so far.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime’s failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the “elimination” of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

During the first phase of the deal, Hamas exchanged 33 Israeli captives and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinians.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, with Israel calling for an extension of the truce to allow the release of the remaining captives. There has been no mention by the regime of any commitment to end the war or fully withdraw its troops, however.

Hamas has insisted on proceeding to negotiations on a permanent ceasefire before agreeing to any further releases.