Evening recap

Good evening Middle East Eye readers,

A temporary pause in fighting has been agreed between Hamas and Israel, which will see 50 Israeli hostages released from Gaza in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians held in Israeli detention.

Hundreds of aid trucks are also set to enter the Gaza Strip, as residents get a respite to the violence, which has seen the number of Palestinians killed cross 14,000, including at least 5,840 children.

Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said “the start of the release will proceed according to the original agreement between the parties, and not before Friday".

The announcement appeared to squash Hamas’ announcement that a ceasefire could start as early as Thursday.

In other updates:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he ordered the Mossad to take action against Hamas leaders wherever they are, according to US-based journalist Barak Ravid.

• The Saudi foreign minister told his US counterpart the “Kingdom's categorical rejection of the forced displacement of the residents of Gaza, and the importance of the international community moving seriously and effectively to confront all the ongoing violations of the Israeli occupation forces and their repeated violations of international law and international humanitarian law".

• During a press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it's been agreed that humanitarian workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will be allowed to visit the remaining hostages in Gaza.

• The International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for an international gathering to ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions.