TEL AVIV — Israel released two Israeli hostages early Saturday among six to be freed in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails. This is the largest number of Palestinian prisoners to be released at once since the beginning of the ceasefire which began in January.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to make Hamas pay "the full price" for what he called a "cruel and wicked violation" of the tenuous Gaza ceasefire agreement after the Israeli and U.S.-designated terrorist group returned the remains of a Gazan woman instead of an Israeli mother taken hostage with her two young children.

Israel says Hamas is violating the ceasefire deal over the return of hostage remains. Israel identified the bodies of a 4-year-old and his 9-month-old brother, but forensic tests revealed a third body was not their mother.