Day 49: Ceasefire takes effect ahead of hostage release, in the final hours, IDF struck sites in Gaza while rockets were launched into Israeli territory

In the final hours before the ceasefire, IDF continued to target Hamas sites within the Gaza Strip. 

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force eliminated the commander of Hamas' naval force in Khan Younis, Omar Abu Jallal, who was involved in launching naval attacks against Israel. 

IDF engineers destroyed several of the tunnel shafts in the area of Al-Shifa Hospital ahead of the pause in fighting. 

IDF troops were also deployed into defensive postures in a “containment zone” and instructed to remain alert for any attempts by Hamas to violate the ceasefire. 

The temporary pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas began at 7 a.m. Friday morning, with the first hostages expected to be released at 4 p.m.

There were several rocket launches from the Gaza Strip in the minutes after the ceasefire officially started. 

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that he does not expect the ceasefire to last long. 

“This will be a short respite, at the end of which the fighting will continue with intensity, and pressure will be created to bring back more abductees. Another two months of fighting is expected,” Gallant stated. 

He said the IDF would continue operations to eliminate Hamas “until there is no military threat from Gaza.” 

A senior defense official told Walla! News that there is intense international pressure on Israel not to resume fighting at the end of the ceasefire. He also said the IDF General Staff and the Israeli Defense Ministry are opposed to ending the war until all the objectives are completed. 

“Dismantling Hamas is easier than returning the captives,” the source said. “We have to do everything to return everyone back home.” 

While the IDF warned Gaza residents from the north to not return to their homes because the area is still considered an active war zone, nonetheless several groups of people were seen moving north after the ceasefire started. 

The IDF prevented people from returning to already secured areas. 

The Israeli Defense Forces' Arabic spokesman released a statement in Arabic, warning Gaza residents to not attempt to return to the northern Gaza Strip. 

⭕️Watch this important message from the IDF Spokesperson for Arab media, @AvichayAdraee, to the civilians of Gaza:

”The war is not over yet. The humanitarian pause is temporary. The northern Gaza Strip is a dangerous war zone and it is forbidden to move north. For your safety,… https://t.co/OmtxDYHIK3 pic.twitter.com/4gaJDxgy5I

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 24, 2023

Israeli security officials are concerned that Hamas will attempt to flood the area with citizens, making efforts to maintain defense harder, and making it easier for Hamas operatives to move into areas already cleared by the Israeli authorities.

Hamas' Telegram channel called on Arab Israelis to join the uprising after Friday prayers in mosques in Jerusalem. 

Egypt announced that it would allow the entry of some 250 trucks with humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including fuel and medical supplies. 

This morning, 4 tankers of fuel and 4 tankers of cooking gas—designated for operating essential humanitarian infrastructure—were transferred from Egypt to UN humanitarian aid organizations in southern Gaza, via the Rafah Crossing.

This was approved by the Israeli government as…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 24, 2023