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.

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

Mediators are pushing for an extension of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas truce.

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

What may be the last hostage exchange of this phase of the cease-fire was set to go forward late last night. Israel and Hamas have agreed to exchange the remains of four Israelis for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Israel said, and mediators guaranteed that Hamas would hand over the coffins without “humiliating ceremonies.”

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.