DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday that the Israeli cabinet is set to convene and give final approval for a ceasefire agreement with the Hamas militant group, which would also include the release of hostages.

At the same time, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued vigorously, and Palestinian officials reported on Thursday that at least 86 people lost their lives in the aftermath of the truce announcement.

Due to persistent disagreements among ministers, Israel postponed meetings that were supposed to take place on Thursday when the cabinet was anticipated to vote on the agreement, attributing the delay to Hamas’s actions.

However, on Friday morning, Netanyahu’s office stated that approval was near.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed by the negotiating team that a deal for the release of the hostages has been agreed upon,” his office released in a statement.

The security cabinet planned to meet on Friday before the entire cabinet convened to finalize the agreement, as per the announcement.

It remained uncertain whether the complete cabinet would gather on Friday or Saturday, or if there would be any delay in initiating the ceasefire scheduled for Sunday.

White House spokesperson John Kirby expressed confidence that the agreement was progressing and that a ceasefire in the ongoing 15-month conflict could commence “by this weekend.”

“We don’t see any current indications that this is going to collapse,” he stated during an interview on CNN on Thursday.

A representative group of families with Israeli hostages in Gaza, 33 of whom are expected to be released in the first six weeks of the plan, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act swiftly.

“For the 98 hostages, each passing night brings a fresh nightmare. Please do not postpone their return, even for another night,” the group implored in a statement released by Israeli media late on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that there was still a “loose end” in the discussions that needed resolution.

As per a U.S. official who requested anonymity, this issue revolved around disagreements concerning the identities of certain prisoners Hamas wished to see released. Envoys from both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump were collaborating with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Doha to address the matter, the official indicated.

Izzat el-Reshiq, a senior Hamas official, confirmed that the group remains fully committed to the ceasefire agreement.

In Gaza, initial excitement over the ceasefire quickly turned into grief and frustration as airstrikes intensified following the truce announcement on Wednesday.

Tamer Abu Shaaban’s voice shook as he stood over the small body of his young niece, covered in a white shroud at a morgue in Gaza City. She had been struck in the back by missile shrapnel while playing in a schoolyard where the family sought refuge.

“Is this the truce they are talking about? What did this young girl, this child, do to deserve this?” he lamented.

The formal acceptance of the deal by Israel hinges on the approval from both the security cabinet and the government. The prime minister’s office has not provided details about the timeline.

Some analysts speculated that the commencement of the ceasefire, set for Sunday, could be postponed if Israel does not finalize the agreement by Saturday.

Certain hardliners within Netanyahu’s government are wary, arguing that the ongoing war has yet to accomplish its aim of dismantling Hamas and should not conclude until that mission is fulfilled.

Nevertheless, a majority of ministers are expected to support the deal.

In Jerusalem, demonstrators carrying mock coffins protested against the ceasefire, blocking streets and clashing with police. Additional protesters obstructed traffic until law enforcement intervened.

The ceasefire arrangement was reached on Wednesday following mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. The agreement outlines a six-week initial ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw. In return, numerous hostages held by Hamas, including women, children, the elderly, and sick individuals, would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

This agreement would enable a significant increase in humanitarian support for Gaza, where most of the population has been displaced and grapples with food scarcity, illness, and harsh living conditions.

Israel began its military campaign in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Hamas fighters invaded communities near the border, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 soldiers and civilians and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli estimates.

If the ceasefire succeeds, it could bring an end to hostilities that have devastated much of densely populated Gaza, claimed over 46,000 lives, and displaced a vast majority of the pre-war population of 2.3 million, as reported by Gaza authorities.