Hamas said it had accepted a proposal for a new cease-fire, which would see some hostages released from captivity in Gaza. But details were elusive.

As Russian and Ukrainian delegations discussed pausing hostilities, Moscow increased its assaults on Kyiv's forces.

The closed-door talks at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh follow U.S. consultations with a Ukrainian delegation on stabilizing the front lines and implementing a proposed 30-day armistice.

The Kremlin suggested it may not honor the terms of a Black Sea ceasefire with Ukraine until Russia is admitted back into the SWIFT international banking system.

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A United States delegation is meeting with Kremlin negotiators in Saudi Arabia, where the Trump administration is pushing for progress toward a ceasefire in separate talks with Russia and Ukraine, just as Russian strikes injured scores of people in Ukraine,

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Palestinian sources close to Hamas had told AFP that talks began Thursday evening between the militant group and mediators from Egypt and Qatar to revive a ceasefire and hostage release deal for Gaza