Hamas attacks Netanyahu as it releases bodies of four Israeli hostages

An update away from the release of the hostage bodies - Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al Sisi is heading to Saudi Arabia, according to state television.

It is expected he will discuss a post-war plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which could counter the proposals put forward by Donald Trump in recent weeks.

For context: Trump described Gaza as a "demolition site" where "virtually every building is down" and said "the US will take over" and "we will do a job with it too".

Trump doubled down on his plan last week while meeting Jordan's King Abdullah II, saying there will be "parcels of land" in Jordan, Egypt and "someplace else" where Palestinians will live "happily and very safely".

Speaking on Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump's proposal is the "only viable plan to enable a different future".

People are waving Israeli flags as they gather at the side of the road near the city of Sderot waiting for the convoy transporting the four bodies to pass.

The public have been invited to line the route from the edge of Gaza to the Abu Kabir forensic institute.

Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, with Israeli forces confirming they have now received the bodies.

You can watch the moment the coffins were transferred to the Red Cross in the video below.

Israel's president has asked for forgiveness for not bringing home all of the hostages taken by Hamas alive.

Some 70 hostages are still thought to be being held in Gaza - some dead, some alive. 

The Israel Defence Forces has received the bodies of the four Israeli hostages in Gaza.

According to reports, the IDF will hold a military ceremony in their memory, which will be attended by soldiers and a military rabbi.

From there, the remains will be transported to a forensic institute in Abu Kabir under a police escort.

The bodies will undergo an identification process, which could take up to 48 hours depending on their condition.

No officials will be allowed in the medical centre, which will be working in full capacity to make the process as quick as possible, with families to be the first to get results.

Israel and Hamas will begin indirect negotiations on a second stage of the ceasefire deal this week, officials have said.

Talks were supposed to begin on 4 February, but mediators said the talks never began.

"It will happen this week," Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar told a news conference in Jerusalem yesterday. 

What is the second phase?

When agreed, it's expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including male Israeli soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israel says it will not agree to a complete withdrawal until Hamas's military and political capabilities are eliminated, ensuring it can no longer rule, while Hamas refuses to hand over the last Israeli hostages until Israel ends the war and removes all its troops.

As Hamas hands over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, dozens of Israeli flags have been set up in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

People can also be seen embracing in the pictures below.

The Red Cross has received all four coffins and its convoy is making its way back across the border to Israel.

There, the bodies will be sent to a forensic institute for formal identification. 

The return of the bodies of four Israeli hostages is a "sombre moment" for everybody in Israel and Jews across the world, our international correspondent Diana Magnay says.

She says the two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, "really became a symbol of the tremendous suffering 7 October caused".

"Now, to have them returned back in this way is tragic," she adds.

Referring to the scenes we're witnessing as the coffins are being transferred to the Red Cross, Magnay says Hamas has chosen to use this "as a propaganda opportunity".

"They have missiles on the stage where the four coffins were, saying they were killed by US bombs," she explains.

As we mentioned in our 7.34am post, Hamas has deliberately placed the coffins in front of a screen which blames Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deaths of the hostages. 

In a statement, Hamas said: "We would have preferred your sons to return to you alive, but your army and government leaders chose to kill them instead of bringing them back."

Magnay says Hamas's main message is "this was caused by you, you should take responsibility for it".

But she says 7 October was caused by Hamas, and has brought "untold suffering to both Israel and Palestinians".

Members of Hamas have picked up and carried the first coffin across to the Red Cross vans. 

The vans are surrounded by crowds, with armed Hamas militants keeping people back. 

The Red Cross have put up some white screens to block the view, and drape the coffin in a white blanket before putting it in the back of the van - which drives away. 

The other three coffins remain on the stage.