Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened Hamas with "unimaginable consequences" as part of what it has called a "hell plan" to pressure the Palestinian group into further hostage releases without a troop withdrawal from the enclave.

Israel has introduced what it said was a new U.S. ceasefire plan and is trying to force Hamas to accept it by imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip.

The 42-day truce between Israel and Hamas is set to expire this weekend unless an agreement is struck to extend it. The two sides were meant to begin talks on a permanent end to the war in early February;