The fate of two hostages held by ISIL, a Japanese journalist and a Jordanian air force pilot, remains uncertain 24 hours after threats to kill them imminently were revealed.

In exchange for the pilot’s freedom, the Jordanian government has agreed to release a convicted al Qaeda terrorist, on death row for her role in a suicide bomb attack ten years ago.

The government said it had had no response to its offer to swap prisoners.

The self-proclaimed Islamic State had demanded the release of Sajida al-Rishawi in exchange for the airman, Lieutenant Muath al-Kasasbeh, and the Japanese reporter Kenji Goto.

The pilot’s father had appealed to the King of Jordan to free the Iraqi woman, criticising his government’s efforts to secure his son’s release.

The government statement read out on Jordanian TV confirmed the priority was to safeguard the airman’s life, but made no mention of the Japanese hostage.

His fate was thought to be tied to that of Goto after a video was released on Tues