The BBC has been told that as talks continue to secure the release of many of the estimated 203 hostages held in Gaza, Hamas has offered to release some in exchange for an immediate ceasefire.
Israel has so far not agreed to this, we are told.
Internationally-brokered negotiations have been ongoing around the hostages held in Gaza.
There’s been no official confirmation from any side about the details of discussions. The BBC is working to clarify the latest information.
Israel's military says 20 children under 18 are among 200 hostages being held in Gaza after the Hamas attacks on 7 October.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces says between 10 and 20 are over 60, and the majority of those being held are alive.
Their continued captivity in Gaza is a complicating factor for Israeli commanders planning their intended incursion into the territory.
Obviously, the hostages stand a far better chance of coming out alive if this can be done by negotiation.
Gaza is now a "hellhole" for civilians and time is running out to get aid into the territory, says the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees.
UN chief Antonio Gutteres has visited the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, saying he expects the first shipment of aid to enter Gaza in "the next day or so".
Palestinian officials say more than 4,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people.
On Thursday, an Orthodox Christian church in Gaza City where church authorities say hundreds of people were sheltering was hit.
Israel says its jets had targeted a nearby Hamas base used to fire rockets at its territory and it was reviewing the incident.
