Hamas militants have released the bodies of four more hostages from the Gaza Strip more than 16 months after they were taken captive

Palestinian militant group, Hamas, will on Thursday hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages to their family. Among the corpses to be handed over is that of the Bibas family, who have become symbols of the hostage crisis that has gripped Israel since the Gaza war broke out.

Israel will start negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas as early as this week, aiming for the complete dismantling of the Palestinian group in Gaza.