Temporary truce in Gaza setting the stage for exchange of hostages and prisoners

Israeli soldiers are seen at a staging area near the border with Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Thursday (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

A temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war came into effect early on Friday, setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

The halt in fighting was scheduled to begin at 7am local time (5am GMT) and is to last at least four days.