Hamas took a number of Israelis hostage in its attack on 7 October 2023. Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP
- First hostages expected to be released by Hamas on Sunday, Israeli PM's office says
- Release follows a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
- Israeli security cabinet meeting on Friday (local time) to vote on the accord
Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says.
If successful, the ceasefire would halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanised Gaza, killed over 46,000 people, and displaced most of the tiny enclave's pre-war population of 2.3 million several times over, according to local authorities.
The Israeli cabinet will meet to give final approval to the deal with militant group Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and a release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday (local time), following concerns the accord may be delayed.
In Gaza itself, Israeli warplanes kept up intense strikes, and the Civil Emergency Service said on Friday that at least 101 people, including 58 women and children, had been killed since the deal 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.
Hamas said it was committed to the deal.
But in the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu's office said approval was imminent and the restricted security cabinet was due to meet on Friday before a full cabinet meeting to ratify the deal that would 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.
- Reuters
