The Israeli security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas, paving the way for the return of the first hostages from Gaza on Sunday and ending the 15-month conflict that has devastated the coastal strip.
The war between Israeli forces and Hamas has flattened much of Gaza, killed more than 46,000 people and displaced most of the enclave's pre-war population of 2.3 million several times over, according to local authorities.
If successful, a ceasefire could also ease hostilities in the Middle East, where the Gaza war has spread to include Iran and its proxies - Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and armed groups in Iraq, as well as the occupied West Bank.
In Gaza, Israeli warplanes continued heavy attacks and medics and rescue authorities said at least 104 Palestinians, including 58 women and children, had been killed since the deal was announced on Wednesday.
Under the first six-week phase of the three-phase deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50.
Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under the age of 19 held in Israeli prisons by the end of the first phase. The total number of Palestinians released will depend on the hostages released and could be between 990 and 1,650 Palestinians, including men, women and children. The Israeli Justice Ministry on Friday published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners who will be released in the first exchange on Sunday.
Hamas said in a statement that the obstacles that arose in the terms of the Gaza ceasefire agreement have been resolved.
After a last-minute delay on Thursday that Israel blamed on Hamas, Netanyahu's office said early Friday that Israel's security cabinet would meet to approve the ceasefire deal. Hamas said Thursday it was committed to the agreement, which takes effect on Sunday. (A2 Televizion)
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