TEL AVIV, November 23. /TASS/. The release of part of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip will begin not earlier than Friday, November 24, Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said.

Hanegbi said in a statement that contacts on the release of hostages continue non-stop and under the initial agreement the release of hostages will begin on Friday.

After an hours-long special meeting on the night of November 22, Israel’s government approved a plan envisaging the return of at least 50 hostages from the Gaza Strip in the next four days, during which a ceasefire will be observed in the enclave. On the morning of November 22, the Israeli Justice Ministry published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could be released under the deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel would halt hostilities for a day for the release of ten more hostages. According to Tel Aviv, more than 200 people are held by militants.