Hamas has handed over what it says are the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Gaza. Israel is testing DNA samples to confirm they are the remains of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69, all of whom were taken by Hamas in the 7 October 2023 attacks.

Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages to the Red Cross early Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, days before the first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was to end.

Four coffins said to contain the remains of Israeli hostages have been received by Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.