Hamas-led militants released three male Israeli hostages Saturday, parading them before a crowd in the southern Gaza Strip before handing them over to the Red Cross as part of a shaky ceasefire deal that requires Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

Hamas handed over the coffins of four hostages early Thursday, Israeli authorities confirmed, followed soon after by the return of hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank and Gaza.

Hamas said it would exchange the bodies of four Israeli hostages for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday (Feb 27), capping the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal. The United States said