Hamas says it has handed back to Israel the remains of all the deceased hostages that it can access under a United States-brokered ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
It comes as the first funerals for the returned hostages have started, gathering thousands of mourners.
The militant group returned several Israeli bodies overnight and two more coffins later on Wednesday local time.
Hamas says it has handed over all bodies it can reach
Hamas' armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, described the move as part of the ongoing "hostage-prisoner exchange" agreed to under the truce.
Soon after that deadline, the Israeli military confirmed it had received the coffins of two deceased hostages from the Red Cross and was transporting them to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine for identification.
"The Resistance has fulfilled its commitment to the agreement by handing over all living Israeli prisoners in its custody, as well as the corpses it could access," Hamas' armed wing said in a statement on social media.
It added it would need special recovery equipment and "extensive efforts" to reach more bodies promised under a ceasefire deal.
"We are exerting great effort in order to close this file," the statement said.
Funerals for Israeli hostages
The first funerals for the returned hostages have started in Israel, with thousands gathering to mourn the dead.
Daniel Peretz, an Israeli soldier who was captured during the October 7 attack two years ago, was among the deceased hostages returned to Israel this week. He was laid to rest on Wednesday. Source: Getty / Alexi J Rosenfeld
Illouz's death was confirmed in late 2023, but his body was returned this week following the ceasefire deal.
Illouz's family thanked the thousands of people who were in attendance.
"It warms my heart that you came," his father, Michel Illouz, said. "We don't take it for granted.
"How does one eulogise a son, a beloved child?
"It's hard for me to see or imagine the future without you.
"They snatched you from me — they murdered you — they kidnapped me and stole my identity and murdered my soul and heart.
"Rest now, my sweet one, rest after a journey of two years through worlds unknown to us. I love you, my Guyshuk, my beloved firstborn son."
Illouz was the first of the four hostages handed over by Hamas on Monday to be buried.
Dispute over return of hostage bodies
Hamas returned four bodies confirmed as dead hostages on Monday and another four bodies late on Tuesday, though Israeli authorities said one of those bodies was not that of a hostage.
A Nepali student pays respect to Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student killed in Palestinian militant group Hamas custody, during a candlelight vigil held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Source: Getty / Subaas Shrestha
Earlier in the day, Israel returned the remains of 45 Palestinians to Gaza authorities, bringing the total number of bodies handed over to 90 since the agreement came into effect.
Under the terms of the deal, Israel is to transfer 15 Palestinian bodies for each deceased Israeli returned.
The ceasefire has also resulted in the release of the final 20 surviving hostages from Gaza in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, including about 1,700 detainees held without charge since the conflict escalated in Gaza, as well as a halt to fighting and bombardment.
However, the remains of nearly 20 other hostages are still believed to be in Gaza.
Israel will 'crush' Hamas if truce not honoured, defence minister says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing domestic pressure to ensure the recovery of those bodies.
Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to cut off humanitarian supplies to Gaza if Hamas fails to return the remains of Israeli soldiers.
Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, threatened to resume fighting if Hamas doesn't honour a Gaza truce deal, saying he had ordered the military to prepare a "plan to crush" the group in the event of renewed combat.
"If Hamas refuses to comply with the agreement, Israel, in coordination with the United States, will resume fighting and act to achieve a total defeat of Hamas, to change the reality in Gaza and achieve all the objectives of the war," a statement from Katz's office said.
Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt remained closed on Wednesday, despite reports it could reopen to allow aid convoys through, with Israel insisting Hamas hand over the last of the deceased hostages.
UN says not enough aid is entering Gaza
The United Nations is seeking a boost in humanitarian aid for Gaza, saying the hundreds of relief trucks cleared to enter the devastated enclave under a ceasefire were nowhere near the thousands needed to ease a humanitarian disaster.
The Israeli army handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza authorities via the Red Cross. Source: Getty / Doaa Albaz
Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and its top emergency relief coordinator, called that a "good base" but said it was not enough to meet the scale of need.
"We have 190,000 metric tonnes of provisions on the borders waiting to go in and we're determined to deliver. That's essential life-saving food and nutrition," he said.
Israel resumed operations to reopen the main Rafah crossing from Egypt after Hamas handed over additional remains. It had warned it could keep the crossing shut because Hamas was returning bodies too slowly.
An Israeli security official said preparations were underway to open Rafah to Gaza citizens, while a second official said 600 aid trucks would go in.
