Israel and Hamas set to begin 4-day truce with 13 hostages are ‘on brink of freedom’

Hamas confirmed the truce in the war with Israel will start at 5 am on Friday and 13 ­hostages – some children and elderly women – will be released at 2 pm.

Relatives of those held in the tunnels inside Gaza are desperate that this deal will hold following a delay yesterday. But for the first time, all sides seemed to confirm that this would happen. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he received an “initial” list of names of hostages expected to go free. His spokesman said: “The relevant officials are checking the list and are in contact with all families.”

The military wing of Hamas said a ceasefire would go into effect this morning and last four days. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades said: “In four days, 50 [hostages] will be released,” and confirmed information from Israel that three jailed Palestinian terror convicts would be freed in exchange for every Israeli hostage.