Israel-Hamas war: world awaits start of four-day truce and hostage release

The first ceasefire in seven weeks of war in Gaza is due to come into effect this morning, officials from Hamas and Israel say, after a four-day truce was announced following days of intense speculation and negotiation.

- Jason Burke

But more than 100 Palestinians were reported killed yesterday as Israeli forces continued attacking Gaza from land, sea and air before the deal came into force.

Under the agreement, Hamas will free at least 50 of the more than 240 mostly Israeli hostages they took on 7 October. In return, Israel will release at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow up to 300 lorries of humanitarian aid into Gaza after weeks of bombardment, heavy fighting and a crippling blockade of fuel, food, medicine and other essentials.

There will be a halt to Israeli air sorties over southern Gaza, with air activity over northern Gaza restricted to six hours a day. According to a Hamas statement, Israel has agreed not to arrest anyone in Gaza during the truce. The logistics of arranging the complex exchange of prisoners and hostages could still mean delays.

The hostages to be freed are women and children, and the Palestinian prisoners are also women and people aged 18 and younger, both sides have confirmed. If the first exchanges go well, and Hamas can locate more female hostages or children, there will be further releases on both sides, reports suggest.

The deal struck after weeks of talks mediated by Qatar, the US and Egypt - comes more than six weeks after Hamas launched attacks from Gaza into southern Israel on 7 October, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 240 people hostage.

The Israeli offensive has killed between 13,000 and 14,000 people, thousands of them children, according to Palestinian officials. More are thought to be under rubble. Swaths of northern Gaza have been destroyed, and up to a million people displaced.