Israel and Hamas agree on new exchange which keeps fragile ceasefire intact

Mourners wave Israeli flags as the car carrying the coffin of former Israeli hostage Oded Lifshitz passes by at the entrance of Kibbutz Nir Oz (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israeli and Hamas officials said on Tuesday they have reached an agreement to exchange the bodies of dead hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, keeping their fragile ceasefire intact for at least a few more days.

Israel has delayed the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it says is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas.