By Andrew Mills, Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie

DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s cabinet will meet to give final approval to an agreement with the militant group Hamas for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages, the Prime Minister’s office said. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, amid concerns that the deal could be delayed.

In Gaza itself, Israeli warplanes continued heavy 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 long-standing divisions visible among ministers, Israel has delayed meetings expected on Thursday when the cabinet is expected to vote on the deal, blaming Hamas for the hold-up.

But in the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu’s office said approval was imminent and the tight security cabinet was due to meet on Friday before a full cabinet meeting to approve the deal. which will be done later.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the negotiating team that the parties have reached an agreement to release the hostages,” his office said in a statement.

The prime minister’s office did not comment on the timing.

HARDLINE OPPOSITION

Underscoring the potential obstacles facing a final ceasefire, hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition have criticized the deal as a capitulation to Hamas, which runs Gaza, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if it was approved. However, he said that he will not bring down the government.

His fellow hardliner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has also threatened to quit the government if it does not return to the war to defeat Hamas after the first six-week ceasefire period ends.

However, the majority of ministers are expected to support the agreement.

If successful, the cease-fire would end fighting that has destroyed much of urbanized Gaza, killed more than 46,000 people, and displaced most of the tiny pre-war population of 2.3 million many times over, according to local authorities.

The Palestinians are also suffering from a humanitarian crisis that includes shortages of food, fuel and water.

In Gaza on Friday, mourners gathered around the body of a man killed in an Israeli strike while women hugged each other and cried.

“Life has become an unbearable hell,” said resident Jomaa Abed al-Aal.

After a strike on the tents housing displaced people in Khan Younis, a boy picks up damaged items on the floor filled with canned food and coffee pots.

The attack killed two people and wounded seven others in a camp near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, according to medics.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the latest strikes.

HOSTAGE FAMILIES WANT REVERSIBLE ACTION

A group representing the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza, 33 of whom were to be released in the first six-week phase of the deal, urged Netanyahu to act quickly.

“For the 98 hostages, every night is another night of nightmare. Do not delay their return even one more night,” the group said in a statement on Thursday carried by Israeli media.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that a “dead end” in negotiations needed to be resolved.

A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was a dispute over the identities of some prisoners Hamas wanted freed. Envoys of President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump were in Doha with Egyptian and Qatari mediators working to resolve it, the official said.

Senior Hamas official Izzat el-Reshiq said the group remains committed to the ceasefire agreement.

The cease-fire agreement emerged on Wednesday after mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US The agreement stipulated a six-week initial cease-fire with a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. Dozens of hostages taken by Hamas including women, children, elderly and sick people will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

This paved the way for an influx of humanitarian aid for Gaza, where the majority of the population has been displaced, facing hunger, disease and cold.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after gunmen led by Hamas attacked Israeli border-area communities on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.