HAMAS will return the bodies of four dead Israeli hostages today in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the group said.

This comes as the ceasefire between the warring parties teeters on the brink and while Palestinians in Gaza struggle to survive freezing temperatures.

Israel has delayed the release of about 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest against what it says is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas.

Hamas said that the delay was a “serious violation” of the ceasefire deal and that talks on a second phase aren’t possible until the Palestinians are freed.

However an Israeli official confirmed that the bodies of four hostages were expected to be turned over but provided no further details. 

Hamas has released hostages, and the bodies of four dead hostages, in large public ceremonies which Israel, the Red Cross and United Nations officials claimed humiliated the hostages. 

There will be no public ceremony when the four bodies in the latest exchange are returned to Israel in the early hours of Thursday, according to a senior Hamas official.

The deadlock over the exchange had threatened to collapse the ceasefire when the current six-week first phase of the deal expires this weekend.

The latest agreement would complete both sides' obligations of the first phase of the ceasefire — during which Hamas is returning 33 hostages, including eight bodies — in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has said he wants the sides to move into negotiations on the second phase, during which all remaining hostages held by Hamas are to be released and an end to the war is to be negotiated. 

The Phase 2 talks were supposed to begin weeks ago, but never did.

Meanwhile in Gaza another infant died of hypothermia yesterday, bringing the toll to seven over the past two weeks.

Dr Munir al-Boursh, director-general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, said a baby less than two months old died due to the “severe cold wave” that has hit the Palestinian enclave.

Temperatures have been below 10°C at night and the last few days have been particularly cold.