Palestinian teenagers and women detained by Israeli troops in Gaza were released back into the strip Thursday, marking the latest release during the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. As they disembarked from the Red Cross buses in the southern town of Khan Younis, the teenagers looked gaunt and skinny. (AP video shot by Mohammad Jahjouh)

Israel was supposed to release 620 Palestinian prisoners soon after the hostages were handed over. Officials gave no reason for the delay.

The exchange comes two days before the first phase of the ceasefire between the warring parties is set to expire.

The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners was delayed for several hours and was meant to occur after six Israeli hostages were released on Saturday.

In the final exchange of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, Hamas released the bodies of four hostages and Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The six-week first phase ends on Saturday and details of a second phase are still to be determined.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched negotiators to Cairo on Thursday after Hamas handed over the remains of four hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel released on Thursday 44 Palestinian minors and two woman who had been held in jails, in the latest hostage-prisoner swap of the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal. Palestinian media showed video of the returnees being welcomed into the arms of their relatives,

Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages to the Red Cross early Thursday in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, days before the first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was to end.

After days of impasse, Hamas released the four bodies of Israeli hostages while waiting for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be freed in return, in an overnight exchange marking the final swap as part of a fragile truce in Gaza.