Today's release is the first time Hamas has handed over the bodies of hostages during the war, although several have been recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza and returned to Israel.

Hamas says it has agreed to Israel's request to speed up release of Israeli hostages, including two men held around a decade. The bodies of members of a young family are among those it will hand over.

After meetings in Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Saudi Arabia to push President Trump's plan for Gaza and to meet with Russian counterparts on steps to ending the war in Ukraine.

In a ceremony surrounded by masked Palestinian militants and rubble from the Gaza war, Hamas on Saturday released three Israeli hostages holding U.S., Russian and Argentinian citizenships.

NPR traveled with Jordan's military on a recent helicopter flight delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, part of a test program since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect last month.

Hamas says it will release three hostages on Saturday, resolving a dispute with Israel that threatened to derail the ceasefire. In exchange, Israel will free dozens of Palestinians from jail.

Israel threatened Tuesday to resume hostilities with Hamas in Gaza unless the militant group releases hostages under the ceasefire agreement.

President Trump has already shaken up the Middle East by suggesting a U.S. takeover of Gaza. More drama could be on the way when the president spells out plans for other parts of the volatile region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to resume hostilities unless Hamas releases hostages under a ceasefire agreement on Saturday. Hamas said Monday it is delaying the hostage release.

It is expected to be one of the toughest meetings of the king's quarter-century reign.

Hamas is delaying the release of the next group of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of preventing aid and Palestinians from returning home in Gaza. Israel said Hamas is violating the ceasefire.

Palestinians fled the 1948 Mideast War and took refuge in neighboring Syria. After 77 years, they're still waiting to go back. They are telling Palestinians in Gaza to stay put.

A statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said the leaders will gather on Feb. 27 amid alarm in the region over President Trump's proposals regarding the future of Gaza.

The exchanges are part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

He says the military should prepare exit options by land, sea and air so that anyone who wishes to can leave for "any country willing to accept them."