Militant group Hamas said on Thursday it was ready to begin talks on the second phase of a ceasefire in Gaza after several hundred Palestinians were released from Israeli jails overnight in return for the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

Hamas handed over the last four dead hostages included in the first phase of a cease-fire agreement with Israel, as mediators race to extend the fragile truce.The bodies were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross under the supervision of Egyptian officials early Thursday local time,

The militant group turned over four coffins it said contained the bodies of Israeli captives, and Israel began releasing Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched negotiators to Cairo on Thursday after Hamas handed over the remains of four hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli hostage group says the remains of 3 hostages returned by Hamas have been identified.

Hamas handed over the bodies of 4 Israeli hostages while it waited for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel.

An Israeli group representing families of hostages held by Hamas says the remains of all four hostages returned early Thursday have been identified. Hamas says it is ready to negotiate the next phase of the cease-fire.