Vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) leave with the second batch of released Israeli hostages released by Hamas in the south of Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
"The Red Cross has received two coffins of deceased hostages and is on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip, where the two additional coffins of deceased hostages, that were received earlier, are located," the military said.
Earlier on Monday, Hamas freed all 20 surviving captives it had been holding since October 7, 2023, as part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump.
In return, Israel released 1,968 prisoners and detainees, mostly Palestinians, the prison service said.
Hamas still holds the remains of 24 deceased captives, which it has agreed to return to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal.
"Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages," the military said.
Most of the 251 captives captured on October 7, 2023, including several who were later confirmed dead, were handed over during two previous truces over the past two years of war.
However, Hamas continued to hold 47 captives until the latest ceasefire came into effect.
The remains of an Israeli soldier killed in a previous conflict in 2014 were also being held in Gaza.
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