Four coffins said to contain the remains of Israeli hostages have been received by Israel, as Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in an overnight exchange as part of the fragile ceasefire deal.

The Israeli military said Hamas turned over what it said were the remains of four Israeli hostages for the exchange of dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners was delayed for several hours and was meant to occur after six Israeli hostages were released on Saturday.