UPDATE - Israeli Cabinet to ratify Gaza cease-fire deal on Friday: Public broadcaster

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE AND DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli Cabinet will convene early Friday to ratify the Gaza cease-fire and hostage exchange deal, public broadcaster KAN reported on Thursday.

Qatar announced on Wednesday the agreement to end over 15 months of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip that have killed more than 46,000 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023. The war has left the enclave in ruins.

But a scheduled meeting of Israeli cabinet on Thursday to ratify the deal was postponed, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing opposition against the agreement from his far-right allies.

Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, citing unnamed Israeli and American officials, said "the latest disagreements surrounding the Qatar negotiations have been resolved."

It also quoted Knesset member Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas party, a part of the governing coalition, as saying that "all obstacles have been overcome and that the deal is underway."

He added that "now they are busy with the final technical wording.

The three-phase deal, set to come into effect on Sunday, includes a prisoner exchange and sustained calm, aiming for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

In the first phase, 33 Israeli captives are set to be released in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.