DAY OF TRUCE

Hamas to free some of 240 captives, Pause’ in Israeli strikes for four days

- ANDY LINES, RACHEL HAGAN

CHILD hostages held by Hamas are set to be freed this morning after weeks of tense negotiations.

A complex truce will see a four-day pause in Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, starting at 8am local time.

Four groups of Israeli hostages with 12 or 13 in each - will be handed

But Tom Hand, whose daughter Emily, nine, is among those held, said: "I will believe it when I see it."

It is understood the Red Cross will escort the hostages to the Rafah crossing at the border with Egypt.

In return, 150 Palestinians will be freed from Israeli jails and 300 trucks of aid will go into Gaza.

Details of how the day will play out - including when the Palestinian prisoners will be returned - remained uncertain last night. The Israel Defence Forces insisted they had not agreed to a ceasefire. Lt Col Richard Hecht said: "Our terminology is an operational pause.