Israel handed over a convicted Hezbollah spy to Lebanon on June 1, and in a surprise move, the Islamic guerrilla group turned over what it said were the body parts of Israeli soldiers killed in a 2006 war.

The Hezbollah gesture signaled that a larger prisoner exchange could be in the works between the two bitter enemies.

Israeli authorities released Nasim Nisr, an Israeli of Lebanese descent, after he completed a six-year sentence for espionage.

Hezbollah official Wafik Safa told the group's al-Manar TV station that it handed over a brown box containing what it said were the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in the war.