The Red Cross and Hamas engaged in an exchange on Thursday, in which four dead hostages were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Red Cross vehicles arrive at Gaza location where Hamas is to hand over remains of 4 hostages.

Hamas returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross and some of the 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released into the West Bank to their families, marking the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Hamas has transferred the bodies of four dead hostages to the Red Cross, an Israeli security official confirmed.

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

Also on Thursday, a Red Cross convoy transported dozens of released Palestinian prisoners from Israel's Ofer prison.

Hamas freed all six hostages in the latest exchange Saturday, even as heightened tension between the adversaries clouded the future of the fragile ceasefire deal.

Hamas has released more Israeli hostages at highly stage- managed events in Gaza

Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas hours after two other hostages were freed. A sixth hostage will be released privately in the final exchange in the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

Hamas handed two Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza on Saturday, with four more expected to follow shortly as part of a seventh exchange for Palestinians jailed by Israel in the current truce.

The president of Israel says he takes comfort in seeing the release of hostages this morning. "They return from the depths of hell to begin the process of healing and recovery alongside their loving families,

Five hostages were freed in two ceremonies across Gaza, while Hisham al-Sayed's release was conducted in private.