The Times of Israel is liveblogging Friday’s events as they happen.
Lull in Gaza fighting set for 7 a.m., first group of 13 hostages to be freed at 4 p.m.
The first pause in the almost seven-week war in Gaza initiated by Hamas in response to its October 7 atrocities is expected to start at 7 a.m. this morning, if all goes according to plan.
Nine hours later, the first group of 13 hostages taken from Israel on October 7 and held by Hamas in Gaza will be freed, according to the agreement which officials have touted but with caveats about possible hurdles or curveballs.
Israel has the list of the first 13 hostages of 50 set to be released over the course of the four-day pause in fighting in Gaza, after which Israel has vowed to resume military operations in full force. Israel will also release 150 Palestinian prisoners, females and minors.
Israel said the temporary truce could be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed by the terrorists.
Authorities developed a set protocol for treating the freed hostages, as Israelis brace for difficult days ahead.
Egypt: 130,000 liters of fuel, 200 trucks of aid to enter Gaza daily during pause
Egypt says some 200 trucks of humanitarian aid, 130,000 liters of diesel and four trucks of gas will enter the Gaza Strip daily once the temporary lull in fighting goes into effect at 7a.m. on Friday. It is part of a highly anticipated hostage-and-truce deal that will see a total of 50 Israeli hostages, women and children, freed by Hamas over a four-day pause and the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas and other terror factions abducted some 240 people from Israel on October 7 when thousands of terrorists rampaged thorough southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, a majority of them civilians in their homes and at an outdoors music festival amid shocking brutality. Many of the terrorists wore cameras and gleefully streamed their atrocities.
Egypt and Qatar helped mediate the negotiations. According to the deal, the fighting last will last four days and hostages will be released in groups per day. The first group if 13 is set for release at 4p.m. Friday, according to the Qataris.
Cuban president leads pro-Palestinian march in front of US embassy in Havana
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters, led by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, marched in Havana today in front of the US embassy calling to “free Palestine” and accusing Israel of “genocide.”
The rare march was the first of its kind in about a decade, as the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro was known was staging similar demonstrations to protest the US before his death in 2016, Reuters noted.
Communist-run Cuba has been a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause and does not have diplomatic tied with Israel.
Israeli jets hit Hezbollah rocket launchers in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces says fighter jets have struck a number of rocket launcher sites in Lebanon, in response to fire directed at northern Israel earlier in the day.
The army says its air strikes destroyed launchers belonging to the Hezbollah terror group used in attacks against Israel in recent days, as well as “military sites” used by the group.
The IDF releases footage showing its strikes.
מטוסי קרב תקפו לפני זמן קצר מטרות טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בשטח לבנון.
במסגרת התקיפה שהושלמה, תקפו הכוחות והשמידו עמדות שיגור אשר מהן בוצע ירי לעבר שטח הארץ בימים האחרונים ואתרים צבאיים מהם פעלו מחבלי הארגון >> pic.twitter.com/Omj5y6DKDB— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 23, 2023
At least 80 rockets, missiles, and mortars were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel in a series of Hezbollah salvos Thursday that marked one of the terror group’s most wide-ranging attacks since October 7.