Updated | Israel and Hamas pause in fighting in Gaza strip

Israel and Hamas have started a four-day pause in fighting in the Gaza strip, in a deal which will see 13 Israeli hostages released later in the day.

The pause in fighting is part of a deal that will see hostages and prisoners on both sides of the conflict released.

The deal, mediated by Qatar, includes the temporary pause in fighting, the release of hostages and prisoners, the delivery of aid and fuel into Gaza. 

It also includes a possible extension in the pause. With every 10 additional hostages released, the pause will be extended by another day.

A first group of 13 hostages are expected to be freed at 4pm locally on Friday. Once they are released, Israel will release 39 Palestinian prisoners. This process will repeat until all hostages and prisoners are released.

Israel said that it received a list of those who will be released first, and has started reaching out to the families of the hostages.

In a statement on Thursday, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades said that all military actions by the brigade and by Israeli forces would cease during the four-day pause.

It also said that four fuel trucks and 200 aid trucks will be allowed into the Strip throughout the pause.

Hospital director detained

Israeli military confirmed that it has detained and questioned Abu Salamiya, the director of al-Shifa hospital in north Gaza.

Israel insists that, under Salamiya’s management, the hospital was being used as a Hamas command and control centre under. Hamas denies this.

Meanwhile, the medical director of the Indonesian Hospital in north Gaza told the BBC that is faced heavy fire on Thursday.

The director, Marwan Sultan, said there are still 10 medical professionals and 200 patients at the hospital, despite some evacuations on Monday.

Indeed, the health ministry in Gaza, run by Hamas, said at least 12 people were killed in an air strike on the hospital on Monday.