The fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas was laid bare on Saturday, after Israel accused Hamas of withholding a hostage, prompting a halt in the movement of Gazan civilians back to their homes in the north.

Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaching the terms of the ceasefire deal on Saturday after four more hostages were released from Gaza.

The hostages were released in a staged handover that saw them surrounded by Hamas gunmen and crowds of civilians.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday released four Israeli female soldiers, who were exchanged for 200 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails. The four appeared to be in good health.

Hamas on Friday announced the names of four Israeli women soldiers to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has announced it would release four female soldiers held hostage for 15 months in Gaza, as part of an exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners laid out in its ceasefire agreement with Israel

Four female Israeli soldiers released by Hamas flew in a helicopter with their families to the hospital following their release.