Israeli far-right activists during a protest against a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, near the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 16 January 2025. Israel and Hamas agreed on a hostage release deal and a Gaza ceasefire to be implemented in the coming days following months of war, US and Qatari officials announced on 15 January. Israel's security cabinet is expected to meet on 16 January to approve the agreement. EPA-EFE/ATEF SAFADI 
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, 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 is due to meet on Friday before a full cabinet meeting to ratify the deal that will 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.
(Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Maayan Lubell and James Mackenzie in Jerusalem, Jana Choukeir, Clauda Tanios and Nayera Abdallah in Dubai; additional reporting by Emily Rose, Howard Goller, Ramadan Abed, Steve Holland and Alexander Cornwell; Writing Michael Georgy; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sharon Singleton)