"The second phase negotiations have not practically begun, and we are ready to engage in them as stipulated in the agreement," Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said in a statement, adding that "Netanyahu is procrastinating regarding the second phase".

The ceasefire began on January 19 after more than 15 months of relentless Israeli bombardment on Gaza, which has devastated the territory and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis for over 2 million Palestinians. Since the first phase of the ceasefire began, 19 Israeli captives have been released in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday said talks would begin this week on the ceasefire's second phase, aiming to lay out a more permanent end to the war.

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP on Wednesday that Hamas was ready to free all remaining captives held in Gaza in a single swap during phase two.

Prior to Thursday's handover, there were 70 captives in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.

Since the truce took effect, Israeli attacks have killed and injured several Palestinians across the Strip. On Thursday, Gaza’s health ministry said 22 bodies had been brought to hospitals, all recovered from Israeli strikes, along with 16 injured in the past 24 hours.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 48,319 Palestinians and wounded more than 111,749, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN considers these figures reliable

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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