Israel announced that Hamas is going to release the first hostages of the Gaza ceasefire agreement

DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday.

If successful, the truce would end a war that has devastated urbanized Gaza, killed more than 46,000 people and displaced 2.3 million people from most of the tiny pre-war areas, local officials said.

Israel’s cabinet will meet with the militant group Hamas to give final approval for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Friday.

In Gaza itself, Israeli warplanes carried out heavy airstrikes, the civil emergency service said on Friday, killing at least 101 people, including 58 women and children, after the deal was announced.

Amid a long-running rift between ministers, Israel delayed meetings expected on Thursday, when the cabinet is expected to vote on the deal, blaming Hamas for its protection.

Hamas said it was committed to the deal.

But Netanyahu’s office said early on Friday that approval was inevitable and that the limited security cabinet would meet later on Friday before a full cabinet meeting to ratify the deal.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed by the negotiating team that an agreement has been reached for the release of the hostages,” his office said in a statement.