Initial identification of the four hostages' bodies at the Kerem Shalom crossing will take place "as quickly as possible while being sensitive to the families", Israel's Ministry of Health has said.

"The team from the National Center for Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Health is preparing this evening to assist in identifying the deceased hostages... and then to identify the cause of death," spokesperson Shira Solomon says in a statement.

She adds that they "once again ask the public not to give in to malicious rumours, and to only obtain information through official sources".

As we wait for more updates on the Israeli hostages' bodies being returned, we can bring you pictures of the scene outside Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinian prisoners are set to be freed onight.

As well as Ofer, prisoners will also be released from Ketziot prison in southern Israel.

Israel is set to release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, whose release it had delayed since last weekend in protest at what it said was the cruel treatment of hostages being handed over by Hamas. They include more than 400 Gazans detained by Israeli forces during the war and 50 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails.

A Hamas official earlier told news agency AFP that the 602 people would released as soon as hostages' bodies were returned.

He added that a smaller group of 23 Palestinian women and minors would be released after Israeli hostages had verified the hostages' identities.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Various buildings and monuments across the world, including Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and Budapest's Chain Bridge, have been lit up in orange in memory of a family of three whose bodies were released by Hamas last week.

Israel's Foreign Ministry also said on X, external that its HQ in Jerusalem was lit up in orange on Wednesday evening in memory of Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two sons, Ariel, four, and Kfir, nine months.

Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of Israelis lined the roads of southern Israel for the funeral procession for the family, who were killed in captivity in Gaza after being taken hostage in the Hamas 7 October 2023 attacks.

Yarden Bibas - Shiri's husband and the boys' father who was released by Hamas at the start of the month - paid tribute to Shiri as "the most amazing wife and mother", saying he would always love her.

• Read more: Israelis pay last respects to hostage mother and sons killed in Gaza

The Red Cross is heading to the location in the Gaza Strip where it will collect the four bodies from Hamas, Israeli media including the Times of Israel and Kann news is reporting, citing an Israeli defence official.

The bodies will later be transferred to Israel for identification.

The bodies of the four hostages due to be released tonight will undergo an initial identification at the Kerem Shalom border crossing as they leave Gaza, according to Israeli media.

Haaretz reports that the procedure will be carried out by Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine and a police forensic team.

It comes after the body of a Palestinian woman from Gaza was handed over by Hamas to Israel instead of the body of Israeli Shiri Bibas on Thursday, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A body handed over by Hamas on Friday was later confirmed to be that of Bibas.

Image source, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum

One of the hostages whose body is expected to be released later is Ohad Yahalomi, a dual French-Israeli national who was abducted from Nir Oz.

Ohad was kidnapped along with his 12-year-old son, Eitan, who was later released in the truce in November 2023.

In a message on X, French President Emmanuel Macron says all his heart is with Ohad's family and loved ones.

"The nation stands by their side," he says.

Image source, Family handout

Hamas says the body of Tsachi Idan, from Nahal Oz, is among the four to be returned later. Tsachi was abducted from his home in Nahal Oz on 7 October, after Hamas killed his daughter Maayan.

In a statement via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Tsachi's family says it is "with great sadness" that they have learnt "our beloved Tsachi is no longer alive and that his body will be returned to Israel during the night".

"We are still waiting for the much-needed certainty, which we can only receive after his arrival in Israel and after all necessary examinations are conducted by the authorised state authorities, while maintaining the privacy of Tsachi and his family.

"Since Tsachi was kidnapped, we received several signs of life, and in the previous deal last November, Tsachi was alive and expected to be released."

Image source, Family handout

Image source, Getty Images

Hamas's armed wing earlier said that under the "framework of the deal, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades has decided to hand over the bodies of four hostages tonight".

A Hamas official told AFP news agency that the return of the four bodies "will take place without public presence to prevent the occupation from finding any pretext for delay or obstruction".

Israel has accused Hamas of "humiliating" handover ceremonies - and delayed last weekend's prisoner release because of what it said was the cruel treatment of hostages at the handovers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: "In accordance with Israeli demands, an agreement was reached with the mediators: our four fallen hostages will be returned tonight... without Hamas ceremonies."

Past hostage releases have been accompanied by ceremonies in public spaces carefully choreographed by Hamas.

Hostages have often appeared on stage, surrounded by crowds with Palestinian flags, sometimes given certificates or gift bags.

As our correspondent Paul Adams previously wrote, it is extremely uncomfortable viewing for Israelis.

The Israel Prison Service says it has received the list of prisoners and detainees that will be released "from various prisons" later in exchange for the four hostages.

The 602 Palestinian prisoners include more than 400 Gazans detained by Israeli forces during the war and 50 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails.

Israel says the prisoners will be released from the Ofer prison in the West Bank and Ketziot prison in southern Israel.

The Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office says a hospital in Gaza was preparing to receive released Palestinians.

The brother of Itzik Elgarat says his family have been told the body of his brother will be returned tonight.

Itzik Elgarat, who was 69 when he was abducted, was kidnapped from Nir Oz, and reportedly shot in the hand during the 7 October attacks.

According to the Times of Israel, Danny, his brother, was on the phone with him during the attack and could hear yelling in the background. Itzik's phone was later traced to Gaza.

The Times of Israel also reports that Itzik has citizenship from Denmark and two children who live there.

Israel previously said Itzik was on the list of 33 hostages to be released in this first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Image source, Bring Them Home Now

Tonight's release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is the final one, before the current phase of the ceasefire deal ends on Saturday.

It remains unclear whether the truce will be extended, or progress to phase two, which would see the release of all remaining living hostages in Gaza in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.

Negotiations for phase two were due to begin during phase one - but it is believed they are yet to begin.

The US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff said yesterday that Israeli representatives were en route to begin talks - and he was ready to head to the region too.

"We're making a lot of progress. Israel is sending a team right now as we speak," Witkoff told an event for the American Jewish Committee.

"It's either going to be in Doha or in Cairo, where negotiations will begin again with the Egyptians and the Qataris."

• More on the ceasefire deal's stages

Image source, Israel Katz

Israeli sources tell the Haaretz newspaper that the families of the four hostages whose bodies are set to be returned tonight have been notified.

We have no official confirmation on their identity. But Hamas say they are:

• Iraq-born Shlomo Mansour, 86. Earlier this month, the Israeli military said following intelligence gathering they had learnt he was killed by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and his body taken to Gaza. His wife, Mazal, managed to escape the attack
• Ohad Yahalomi, 50. He was abducted on 7 October from Nir Oz, along with his 12-year-old son, Eitan, who was released during the November ceasefire
• Tsachi Idan, 50. He was taken by Hamas gunmen from his home in Nahal Oz on 7 October. His eldest child, Maayan - who had just turned 18 - was shot dead in the attack. Tsachi's wife, Gali, previously described how she watched her husband being driven away by Hamas
• Itzik Elgarat, 69, was kidnapped from Nir Oz on 7 October, and reportedly shot in the hand. His phone was later traced to Gaza

Today's exchange follows days of impasse between Israel and Hamas - which was resolved by mediators yesterday.

Israel had been supposed to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, in exchange for the six living and four dead hostages handed over by Hamas last week.

But Israel delayed the release, in protest at what it said was Hamas's cruel treatment of Israeli hostages as they were handed over. It accused Hamas of repeated violations including "humiliating" handover ceremonies.

A senior Hamas official said the delay put the entire ceasefire deal in "grave danger". But mediators announced there had been a breakthrough on Tuesday.

According to Israel and Hamas, the bodies will be returned tonight without any ceremony.

Hamas says it will return the bodies of four hostages to Israel tonight, in the latest exchange as part of the Gaza ceasefire.

The four hostages have not been officially identified, but are believed to be Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69.

In exchange, Israel will free more than 600 Palestinian prisoners – something that was due to happen last weekend, before Israel delayed the release in protest at the way Hamas was handing over hostages.

Hamas has agreed to hand over the bodies today without any public ceremony - unlike previous exchanges.

We’re not exactly sure what time the exchange will happen, but we and our colleagues in the region are on standby and will bring you all the details as it happens.