Israel, Hamas agree 4-day truce for hostage release

Israel and Hamas have agreed a deal for the release of 50 women and children hostages held in Gaza in return for 150 Palestinian women and children to be freed from Israeli jails during a four-day ceasefire, both sides announced on Wednesday morning.

 

The deal was confirmed by a senior US official, who told reporters that the freed hostages would include three Americans, one of them a three-year-old girl.

 

The official said that the first hostage release is expected on Thursday morning, and the total number of hostages freed could rise.