Hamas has handed over the bodies of four hostages in a “disgusting spectacle” designed to blame Israel and the West for their deaths.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed shortly after 8.30am UK time that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had received four caskets, widely assumed to contain the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her two young children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifthitz, a veteran peace campaigner.

The coffins were presented on stage in Khan Yunis, central Gaza, before a large crowd and beneath a poster depicting Mr Netanyahu as a vampire, with blood dripping from its fangs.

Banners put up by the terrorist group said a “Nazi army” had killed the hostages with missiles from “Zionist warplanes”.

In front of the coffins, Hamas presented what appeared to be bloodstained components of rockets with “USA bombs” written on them.

The Red Cross, which transferred the bodies to the IDF, had called on the group to effect a “private” and “dignified” handover.