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.

A senior Hamas official said talks over the ceasefire's second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days. Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid.

Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza killed at least eight people, including a local journalist, on Saturday, as tensions escalated amid stalled ceasef.