Israel-Hamas cease-fire details: What we know about hostage exchange deal

Palestinians in Deir al Balah in the Gaza Strip look at destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday, Nov. 22. (AP/Hatem Moussa)

Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas reached a temporary cease-fire deal Wednesday that includes the release of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. 

The first of 50 hostages – including three Americans – are expected to be released from captivity in Gaza starting at 10 a.m. local time Thursday. The hostages are expected to be released in groups of 10-12 over the course of four days, if the cease-fire holds.

Fox News correspondent Jeff Paul reports that in previous releases, the hostages first went through a border crossing in the city of Rafah, at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, into Egypt. 

They were then flown back to Israel to be evaluated at hospitals before talking to Israeli security forces about what they had seen and been through, according to Paul. 

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day in the pause" in the fighting, which is currently expected to last four days.