Israel said Monday that Hamas had yet to clarify whether 34 hostages it claimed it was ready to free were dead or alive, throwing doubt on the group's assertion that it needed time to ascertain their fate.

Israel said Monday that Hamas had not yet provided the status of 34 hostages the group declared it was ready to release in the first phase of a potential exchange deal.

Hamas and Israel accused each other on Wednesday of sabotaging a potential ceasefire-hostage deal despite both sides reporting “significant” progress in past days.

Hamas has named 34 hostages, some of them believed to have died in captivity, who it says it would return to Israel in the first phase of an evolving if still elusive ceasefire in Gaza.

Hamas hasn’t sent any list,” says the official, adding that Israel hasn’t received formal approval of the list. Earlier this morning a Saudi outlet published a list of 34

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has approved a list of hostages it is willing to exchange in the event of a ceasefire. Israel denies any such preparations, stating that it has not received any lists,