Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that the Israeli cabinet will meet to give final approval to a deal with the militant group Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

In Gaza, Israeli warplanes kept up intense strikes, and Palestinian authorities on Thursday said that at least 86 people were killed the day after the truce was announced.

With longstanding divisions apparent among ministers, Israel delayed meetings expected on Thursday when the cabinet was expected to vote on the pact, blaming Hamas for the hold-up.

However, on Friday, Mr Netanyahu’s office said approval was imminent, and the restricted security cabinet is due to meet before a full cabinet meeting to ratify the deal that will be held later.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages,” his office said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the full cabinet, which must approve the deal for it to take effect, would meet on Friday or Saturday or whether there would be any delay to the ceasefire, which had been expected to begin on Sunday.

A 24-hour period is usually given to allow appeals to the Supreme Court and given that the cabinet would not normally meet until Saturday evening after the end of the Jewish day of rest.

The start of the ceasefire might be pushed back. 

(Reuters/NAN)