Hamas released the bodies of two captives on Thursday as the tenuous cease-fire with Israel holds following a week of conflict and failed hostage exchanges.

The Israel Defense Forces received two caskets carrying the bodies from the Red Cross, with the remains taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv for identification, the Israeli military said.

The process could take up to two days, the Times of Israel reported .

It’s the first exchange to take place after Hamas delivered the partial remains of a slain hostage earlier this week, which belonged to a captive who was already recovered in 2023, prompting the cease-fire to nearly fall apart as Israel launched extensive airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

The attacks led Hamas to delay the release of the two bod

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