Israel-Hamas Flash Report 22NOV23 16:00 PST - Cease-Fire to Start at 10:00 Hours Tel Aviv Time on Friday

The Supreme Court of Israel rejected an attempt to block the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, removing the last roadblock. Hostilities are set to end at 10:00 hours Tel Aviv time on Friday, November 24, and continue for four days. The cease-fire was supposed to start on Thursday, but Israeli officials announced that there would be a delay due to some final issues that need to be "ironed out."

If Hamas releases at least another ten hostages per day after the fourth day, the cease-fire could last as long as 22 days. Both combatants have stated they are interested in establishing a durable cease-fire and plan to restart hostilities, with Israel using more forceful language.

 The cease-fire includes:

• The end of all hostilities during the cease-fire
• Hamas will release 50 hostages in stages over four days, with women and children released first
• Hamas said that if they can't find all the women and children to reach 50 hostages, they will release men, starting with the elderly 
• Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners - it is unclear if this will also be in stages and if the prisoners will be released to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, or a third-party nation
• Israel released a list of 300 Palestinians who are eligible for release - it is unclear if additional Palestinians will be released past the 150 in exchange for releasing more hostages and extending the cease-fire
• Hundreds of trucks containing humanitarian aid, including fuel, will be permitted to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt
• The International Committee of the Red Cross will be permitted to check the health and safety of all remaining hostages and do medical exams

Hamas has repeatedly stated they don't know where all the hostages are, including eight Russian nationals and ten children, so it is unclear how the ICRC will enforce the welfare check. Previously, Hamas officials claimed that Israeli airstrikes had killed 60 hostages in several incidents. Israel is reporting that there are 236 people who remain captive. Since October 8, four have been released, one was rescued, and three were killed.