First Thing: Talks under way on three-day ceasefire in Gaza for hostage release

Reported terms would allow more aid to enter territory in exchange for release of dozen hostages held by Hamas. Plus, why being delusional is the new manifesting

Good morning.

Officials and diplomats are negotiating a days-long ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages, including children, women, elderly and sick people, the Guardian understands.

What's happening in Gaza? Tens of thousands of Palestinians fled northern Gaza yesterday, the Israel Defence Forces said, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of worrying trends" in the risk of disease in the territory after weeks of Israeli airstrikes. The accelerating exodus came as Israeli forces closed in on the centre of Gaza City, launching intense bombardments, and claimed that Hamas had lost control of the north of the territory.

Who is performing best in the debates? Haley performed well in the first two debates, and has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity. She had painted DeSantis as an isolationist at a time when, she said, the US needed to work with global partners, and their feud continued on Wednesday with bickering over China, each accusing the other of operating policies favorable to one of the US's foes.

What did the candidates say about Trump? Haley and DeSantis were united in tearing strategically into the absent former president, who they trail by a significant margin in the race for the nomination. Trump, DeSantis said, owes it to you to be on this stage".