The Palestinian militant group Hamas has released the last surviving hostages it was holding in Gaza, in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners, under the terms of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Hamas had said it had handed over all the Israeli hostage remains it had been able to recover, and extensive efforts and special equipment would be required to find the remaining bodies.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said early on Sunday identification of Engel’s remains had been completed. The Israeli government said it “shares in the deep sorrow of the Engel family and all the families of the fallen hostages.” The identity of the second person has not been publicly confirmed.

Israel said it has received the bodies of three more hostages, and Gaza officials said they received the bodies of 15 more Palestinians released by Israel.

One body Hamas returned to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal "does not match any of the hostages," the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday.

Hamas has said it is still trying to locate the remains of some Israeli hostages to return under the ceasefire deal.

Israel held a farewell ceremony for Nepali hostage Bipin Joshi, hailed as a hero of Kibbutz Alumim, before returning his body to Nepal for burial. The body of slain Nepalese hostage Bipin Joshi was sent back to his home country for burial after a moving memorial ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday morning.

Israel says it has received 20 hostages released by Hamas while Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as the ceasefire in Gaza held amid a critical day for all sides and the region.

Israel received another hostage's remains from Hamas via the Red Cross, identifying the deceased as Eliyahu Margalit, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023.

David and his friend hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal were separated in the tunnels and denied food so they would appear skeletal for filmed “proof-of-life” clips, with food restored only after filming. Viewers around the world were shaken by a Hamas video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David emaciated and digging what he said was his own grave almost three months ago.