Palestinian boys inspect the damage to a tent for displaced people, after an Israeli airstrike, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 17, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

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, it added. 

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 enclave's population, according to local authorities. 

Israel delayed meetings expected on Thursday when the cabinet was expected to vote on the pact. But in the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu's office said approval was imminent as a full cabinet is set to meet later to ratify the deal.