Thanks to you at home for joining me this hour. After 47 days of fighting, 47 days of

Israeli hostages held in captivity, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of

50 hostages but the timing of it all may still be an open question. Now the

deal was brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States and it was all supposed to start by 3 a.m. Eastern time tonight.

But Israeli officials are now saying that the release of hostages will not happen before Friday.

What that means for the timing of the temporary ceasefire is unclear.

The New York Times reports that the ceasefire may also be delayed until Friday, but NBC News has not confirmed this.

The deal itself involves the release of 50 civilian women and children currently held

by Hamas.

The release of 150 Palestinian women and children currently held in Israeli jails

and the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

U.S. officials have warned that we won't know for sure which hostages will be released until they are

actually released. But National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told

NBC News today that three Americans should be part of this initial group of 50, two women and a child.

The hostages will be released in four phases, one group for each day the fighting is paused.

Around 10 hostages are expected to be freed every day

over the course of four days beginning on Friday. Now there is an option for this system of

ceasefire and release to go on as long as 10 days

an additional 10 hostages would be released for each day there is a pause in fighting.

So today is a hopeful day, but it is also the start of a week

filled with anxiety as family members of hostages wait to see if their loved

ones will be among those released.

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