Israel hands over bodies of 30 Palestinians as ceasefire agreement edges forward

Red Cross vehicles carrying the bodies of two people believed to be deceased hostages handed over by Hamas (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to health authorities in Gaza on Friday, completing an exchange after militants turned over remains of two hostages, in a sign that the tense Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is edging forward.

The incremental progress came despite Israeli strikes on Gaza this week that killed more than 100 people following the killing of an Israeli soldier.