In Gaza, Israeli warplanes have kept up heavy attacks since the ceasefire deal was agreed.

Medics in Gaza said an Israeli airstrike earlier today killed five people in a tent in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in the enclave’s south.

This brought to 119 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli bombardment since the accord was announced on Wednesday.

With the accord bitterly opposed by some Israeli cabinet hardliners, media reports said 24 ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition government voted in favour of the deal while eight opposed it.

According to Reuters, the opponents said the ceasefire agreement represented a capitulation to Hamas.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if it was approved and urged other ministers to vote against it. However, he said he would not bring down the government.

His fellow hardliner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also threatened to quit the government if it does not go back to the offensive to defeat Hamas after the first six-week phase of the ceasefire.

After the Israeli cabinet approval of the Gaza ceasefire deal, lead US negotiator Brett McGurk said the plan was moving forward on track, according to Reuters.

The White House expects the ceasefire to start tomorrow morning, with three female hostages to be released to Israel tomorrow afternoon through the Red Cross.

“We have locked down every single detail in this agreement. We are quite confident… it is ready to be implemented on Sunday,” McGurk said on CNN from the White House.

After tomorrow’s hostage release, McGurk said the peace accord called for four more female hostages to be released after seven days followed by the release of three further hostages every seven days thereafter.

Israel’s cabinet approved a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said, a day ahead of the agreement’s scheduled start, Reuters reports.

Earlier today, after meeting for more than six hours, the government ratified the agreement that could pave the way for an end to the 15-month-old Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian enclave, which Hamas governs.

“The government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages’ release will come into effect on Sunday,” Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement.

Under the deal, the three-stage ceasefire starts with an initial six-week phase when hostages held by Hamas will be exchanged for prisoners detained by Israel.