Israel and Hamas finalize a historic cease-fire and hostage deal set to begin Sunday. The agreement includes phased releases, intense negotiations and ongoing security concerns.

Israel's Cabinet has approved the Gaza ceasefire deal that would pause the fighting and release dozens of hostages held by Hamas militants along with Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The approval came early on Saturday after a marathon session by the full Cabinet.

The ceasefire agreement, reached with Hamas, provides for the swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Under the deal, bitterly opposed by some cabinet hardliners, a six-week ceasefire is due to take effect on Sunday, with the first of a series of hostage-for-prisoner exchanges that could open the way to ending the 15-month war in Gaza.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday, after 15 months of war that demolished the enclave.

"Pending approval by the Security Cabinet and the Government, and the agreement taking effect, the release of the hostages will be implemented according to the planned framework in which the hostages are expected to be released on Sunday,