Hamas has returned the bodies of four additional deceased hostages to Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with identification efforts currently underway.
The remains were retrieved by the Red Cross in coffins and handed over to the Israeli military late on Tuesday night.
This transfer followed Israel's warning that it would restrict aid into Gaza until Hamas returned the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages.
Earlier, Hamas had handed back 20 living and four deceased hostages on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross announced the return of 45 deceased Palestinians who had been held in Israel to Gaza on Tuesday.
The first four deceased hostages released by Hamas on Monday have been identified by Israel as Daniel Peretz, 22; Yossi Sharabi, 53; Guy Illouz, 26; and Bipin Joshi, 23, a Nepalese national.
The ceasefire plan brokered by US President Donald Trump, which both Israel and Hamas accepted, envisioned the handover of all 48 hostages by noon on Monday.
While all living hostages were returned, pressure is mounting on Hamas and the Israeli government regarding the remains of 20 hostages that Hamas has yet to repatriate.
Palestinians have expressed growing concern that delays in returning the bodies could jeopardize the ceasefire's future.
The IDF stated that Hamas is obligated to fulfill its part of the agreement by making necessary efforts to return all hostages to their families for proper burial.
Israel's defense minister warned that any delay or deliberate avoidance would be considered a gross violation of the agreement and would prompt a response.
Israeli officials have decided to restrict aid and postpone plans to open the Rafah border crossing with Egypt due to Hamas's failure to turn over the bodies as agreed.
Hamas has cited difficulties in locating the remains of the deceased hostages.
An Israeli official suggested that an international task force might be established to locate any remains not returned.
US President Trump emphasized on social media that while a significant burden has been lifted, the job is not complete until all deceased are returned, marking the beginning of the second phase of the ceasefire plan.
Many Palestinians have voiced concerns that the delay in returning all bodies and ongoing violence could threaten the ceasefire and derail further negotiations.
Gaza writer Tayseer Abed described the current standoff as a dangerous test for the ceasefire, warning that unresolved issues over the corpses could ignite renewed conflict.
Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were released as part of the 20-point peace plan, which Trump touted as ending the two-year war.
The ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope for a peaceful next phase in talks with Hamas but stressed that Hamas must demilitarize to avoid further conflict.
He outlined conditions including the surrender of arms, elimination of weapons factories, and prevention of arms smuggling into Gaza.
Trump also pressured Hamas to disarm, stating that if they do not comply, they will be disarmed forcibly.
Despite the ceasefire largely holding, Palestinian Civil Defence reported seven deaths caused by Israeli forces in two incidents on Tuesday.
Additionally, Hamas fighters have been reasserting control in Gaza, with reports of public executions of Palestinians sparking fear and outrage.
The ceasefire declaration was signed by leaders from the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, with over 20 world leaders attending, though Netanyahu and Hamas did not participate.
The plan envisions Gaza initially governed by a transitional committee before power transfers to the Palestinian Authority, but significant challenges remain regarding troop withdrawals, disarmament, and governance.
The conflict began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, with over 67,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli military operations since then, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.