Hamas starts handing over bodies of Israeli hostages to Red Cross

Israel's military said Monday that Hamas handed over the remains of two hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and is expected to transfer two more later in the day.



"According to information received from the Red Cross, two coffins containing the remains of hostages have been handed over and are en route to an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and Shin Bet force inside the Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement. "Transfers of two additional coffins are expected to follow."



Photos released by the military showed Israeli Yasur heavy-lift helicopters arriving near Gaza to receive the bodies.



Meanwhile, al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that it will hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages as part of the ongoing stage of a prisoner-hostage swap deal.