Hamas said Saturday it will only release an American-Israeli and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements their ceasefire agreement, calling it an ''exceptional deal'' aimed at getting the truce back on track.

Hamas took more than 240 people in Israel hostage during the Oct. 7 massacre and more than 40 have died in captivity. Calls for a ceasefire grew more urgent in September when Israel determined the terrorists had gunned down an American and five other captives and left their bodies in a Gaza tunnel.

Hamas says it has accepted a proposal from mediators to release one living American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four dual nationals who had died in captivity.