The armed wing of Hamas said on Monday it told Qatari mediators the group was ready to release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in return for a five-day truce with Israel.

"Qatari mediators have made efforts to release Israeli detainees in exchange for releasing 200 Palestinian children and 75 women," Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, said in an audio recording posted on the group's Telegram channel.

"The truce should include a complete ceasefire and allow aid and humanitarian relief everywhere in the Gaza Strip," he said.

(With input from agencies)