Hamas accused Israel on Friday of breaching their ceasefire accord and it delayed announcing the names of three more Israeli hostages due to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage in a fragile deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

It is believed that at least two of the six American hostages still held in Gaza are alive — Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, who grew up in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and Edan Alexander, 19, from Tenafly, New Jersey. Four other Americans are believed to have been killed in captivity.

Hamas has released the names of three Israeli men it said it would free from Gaza on Saturday, in what will be the fifth round of exchanges under the ongoing ceasefire.

Latest news and live updates on the Gaza ceasefire deal as four female hostages are set to be released. The hostages are all Israeli soldiers.

Hamas have so far freed 18 hostages in exchange for around 600 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails

The fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas was laid bare on Saturday, after Israel accused Hamas of withholding a hostage, prompting a halt in the movement of Gazan civilians back to their homes in the north.

Hamas militants freed three male hostages held for more than a year in the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in the fourth such exchange of a ceasefire deal that has halted 15 months of intense fighting.

The moment Keith emerges from the Hamas vehicle, the room goes silent. And then as he steps onto the stage, gasps, followed by *** pressure valve release. And then come tears, hugs, and joy, relief. I'm so relieved that he's back.

The three civilians will be exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners in the latest swap on Saturday.