On Saturday, the White House denied information about the existence of a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Hamas that would allow the release of dozens of women and children held hostage in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a cessation of fighting for five days.

In response to a Washington Post report about a preliminary agreement, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on the X platform, “We have not reached an agreement yet, but we continue to work hard to reach an agreement.”

On Saturday, the American newspaper "Washington Post" quoted "informed sources" that "Israel and Hamas reached a preliminary agreement, mediated by the United States, that would release dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a cessation of hostilities for five days." .

The newspaper reported that “the release of the hostages may begin within days and lead to the first stop in the current conflict in Gaza, if the detailed six-page agreement is adhered to.”

The newspaper also reported from unnamed sources that “all parties will stop combat operations for at least five days while some hostages will be released in batches, provided that there will be aerial surveillance to stop the fighting.”

But the White House National Security Council responded quickly via the X platform, denying that any major hack had been achieved on Saturday evening

Washington has previously confirmed that the ceasefire is linked to the release of the hostages

White House Senior Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk acknowledged during the 19th edition of the “Manama Dialogue Forum,” organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, that the situation in Gaza is “horrific” and “unbearable.” ‏

But he added, "There will be an influx of humanitarian aid, fuel, and a ceasefire when the hostages are released."