Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday.
If successful, the ceasefire would halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanised Gaza, killed more than 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, Mr Netanyahu’s office said, following concerns the accord may be delayed.
In Gaza itself, Israeli warplanes kept up intense strikes, and the…