GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said Monday that Hamas handed over the remains of two hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and is expected to transfer two more later in the day.

"According to information received from the Red Cross, two coffins containing the remains of hostages have been handed over and are en route to an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and Shin Bet force inside the Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement. "Transfers of two additional coffins are expected to follow."

Photos released by the military showed Israeli Yasur heavy-lift helicopters arriving near Gaza to receive the bodies.

Meanwhile, al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that it will hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages as part of the ongoing stage of a prisoner-hostage swap deal.

In a press statement, al-Qassam said the bodies belong to Israeli hostages Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez.

Al-Qassam added that the handover "comes within the framework of the Al-Aqsa Flood prisoner exchange deal," which stipulates the release of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons in exchange for Israeli captives and bodies held in Gaza.

This marks the first time that Hamas has disclosed the remains of Israeli captives since the ceasefire with Israel took effect on Friday.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is required to return the remains of all 28 deceased hostages by the end of Monday. However, the group said it was facing difficulties locating the burial sites of all the bodies. ■