Hamas has said it was ready to release Israeli hostages if Israel freed all Palestinians held in its prisons. The demand came amid Israel's massive ground offensive in Gaza, which Israel said has now "turned into a battlefield".
Earlier, Hamas said they were trying to locate eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens who were taken hostages in order to free them on Moscow's request.
Russia has good relations with Hamas, which has begun a diplomatic effort to try to free hostages held in Gaza.