Israel, the United States and Hamas have reached a tentative agreement to free dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the deal.

As part of the detailed, six-page agreement, all parties would freeze combat operations for at least five days while 'an initial 50 or more hostages are released in smaller groups every 24 hours', the Post reported. 

Hamas took about 240 hostages during its October 7 rampage inside Israel that killed 1,200 people. So far, just four captives have been released the war began.

It was not immediately clear how many of the 239 people believed to be in captivity in Gaza would be released under the deal. The newspaper said overhead surveillance would monitor ground movement to help police the pause, which also is intended to allow in a significant amount of humanitarian aid.

But early on Sunday morning in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that any such deal was in place.