Hamas accuses Netanyahu of 'procrastinating' over second phase of Gaza truce

Hamas on Thursday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "procrastinating" on negotiations for the second phase of a fragile cease-fire in Gaza, after Palestinian militants returned the bodies of four deceased hostages to Israel.

"The second phase negotiations have not practically begun, and we are ready to engage in them as stipulated in the agreement," Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou said in a statement, adding that "Netanyahu is procrastinating regarding the second phase."

The fragile truce took effect on Jan. 19 after more than 15 months of Israel's devastating onslaught against the besieged enclave, during which it razed to the ground most of the Strip's landscape and killed more than 48,000 people.

Since the first phase of the cease-fire began, 19 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners.

Thursday's repatriation of hostage remains from Gaza is the first time Hamas has handed over bodies since the beginning of the truce, which has held despite accusations of violations on both sides.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday said talks would begin this week on the cease-fire's second phase, aiming to lay out a more permanent end to the war, while senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP on Wednesday that Hamas was ready to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during phase two.

Hamas and its allies took 251 people captive during their attack. Prior to Thursday's handover, there were 70 hostages in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead. That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.