(Reuters): Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages as part of an ongoing exchange process, with the agreement tied to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. 

The exchange marked the final step of the first phase of a fragile ceasefire, which has been in effect since January 19. Despite challenges, the ceasefire has largely held, but its future remains uncertain as the first phase is due to end this week.

Hamas stated on Thursday that it was prepared to engage in talks regarding the second phase of the truce. According to Hamas, the release of remaining hostages can only occur if the ceasefire is strictly maintained.

After a period of deadlock, Egyptian mediators were able to secure the handover of the bodies of the four Israeli hostages, in exchange for 620 Palestinians who were detained by Israel, either in Gaza or within Israel’s prisons.

Israel had previously refused to release prisoners after Hamas had handed over six hostages in a public ceremony. 

During the earlier stage of the handover, Hamas controversially displayed both living hostages and coffins containing the bodies of deceased hostages on stage in front of a crowd. This act drew sharp criticism from various organizations, including the United Nations.

The final handover of the four bodies did not include such a public ceremony, a departure from the previous exchanges.

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the coffins containing the remains of the four Israeli hostages arrived in Israel early Thursday.

Hamas had identified the bodies as those of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur, all of whom had been abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack on their homes near Gaza.

The bodies are undergoing initial identification in Israeli territory, and official notifications will be provided to the families once the process is completed, according to Netanyahu's office.

There was a delay in the handover process earlier when Hamas mistakenly handed over the remains of an unidentified Palestinian woman instead of Shiri Bibas. The correct body was delivered the following day, and the unidentified woman’s body was returned to Gaza.

The Israeli health ministry has announced that a full forensic examination to determine the cause of death for the four bodies will take place later.

Israeli authorities have reported that around 30 hostages have been killed in Gaza, with some of these deaths resulting from actions by their captors, while others were killed during Israeli military operations.

Also Read: Hamas Returns Bodies of Two Youngest Israeli Hostages

In exchange for the Israeli hostages, 445 men, 24 women, and minors arrested in Gaza, as well as 151 prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, are among those freed.

A bus carrying a group of Palestinian prisoners left Israel's Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank and arrived in Ramallah, where they were met with cheers from large crowds.

Some of the released prisoners, dressed in green jackets and keffiyehs, were lifted by the crowd in celebration.

Released prisoner Bilal Yassin, 42, who had been detained in Israel for 20 years, told Reuters that he had faced severe oppression and poor conditions throughout his imprisonment. 

"Our sacrifices and imprisonment were not in vain," Yassin said, adding that he had remained confident in the Palestinian resistance movement.

Around 100 additional Palestinian prisoners were handed over to Egypt, where they will remain until a third country agrees to accept them.

Early Thursday, ambulances arrived at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza, to transport the freed Palestinians, who are scheduled for medical examinations.

In total, Hamas stated that 580 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are being freed in Gaza as part of the exchange. Buses escorted by the Red Cross are expected to arrive soon.

The first phase of the ceasefire involved the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It also included a withdrawal of Israeli troops from some positions in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid. However, with the 42-day truce set to expire soon, it is unclear whether it will be extended, or whether negotiations for the second phase, aimed at ending the war, will commence.