Israel's foreign minister: If Hamas releases more hostages willing to enter the second phase of the ceasefire

Israeli Foreign Minister David Sall said Tuesday that Israel is ready to enter a second phase of a Gaza truce as long as Hamas is willing to release more hostages still being held.

The first phase of a 42-day ceasefire in Gaza has expired, with Hamas and Israel still far apart on issues including the post-war governance of Gaza and the future of Hamas itself.

Saar told reporters in Jerusalem: "We want to move to the second phase of the ceasefire.

"But in order to extend that time, we need to reach an agreement to release more hostages."

Hamas says it wants to move forward with talks on a second-phase cease-fire that would allow for the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the return of 59 hostages still held, paving the way for a permanent end to the war.

But Israel says the hostages must be handed over to extend the truce.

The State Department said Monday that Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Vitkov, will visit the region in the coming days to discuss extending the cease-fire or moving forward with a second phase of negotiations.

Saar denied that Israel had violated the agreement by not moving forward with the second phase of negotiations. He said advancing the truce was not "automatic" and that Hamas had seized most of the supplies in violation of the agreement allowing aid into Gaza.

"This is a means to continue waging war against Israel. Aid is now the main source of income for Hamas in Gaza."

Aid groups say looting and the illegal seizure of aid trucks entering Gaza is a major problem, but Hamas denies withholding aid for its own members.

Saar declined to comment on reports that Israel had set a 10-day deadline to reach an agreement or resume fighting, but said: "If we want to do it, we will do it."