Across Israel, it's a day of joy and tears with families, loved ones and friends waiting anxiously as Hamas began releasing the last living hostages held captive for over two years in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli officials said Israel had decided to restrict aid and delay plans to open the southern border crossing to Egypt because Hamas had violated the ceasefire deal by failing to turnover the bodies of hostages who had died after being captured in Hamas's invasion of Israel in October 2023.

Israel identified two of the four deceased hostages whose bodies it received from Hamas via the Red Cross after the final 20 living hostages were returned.