Netanyahu’s office said an agreement had been reached to release the hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has announced that an agreement has been reached to release the hostages.

A cabinet vote to approve the Gaza ceasefire was delayed after Netanyahu accused Hamas of seeking last-minute changes to the deal.

On Friday morning, his office said Netanyahu had been informed by the negotiating team that an agreement had been reached.

Netanyahu’s office said the political-security cabinet had ordered a meeting later Friday and the government “will then meet to approve the deal.” He added that the families of the hostages have been informed.

Israeli media reported that representatives of Israel, Hamas, the United States and Qatar officially signed the agreement in Doha.

The ceasefire agreement was first announced on Wednesday by US and Qatari mediators.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said the deal would take effect on Sunday pending Israeli cabinet approval.

At the time, Netanyahu said the final details of the deal were still being worked out, but thanked Biden for “promoting it.”

Netanyahu delayed a cabinet vote to approve the deal on Thursday, accusing Hamas of trying to “exploit last-minute concessions”.

Hamas says it is committed to the deal, but the BBC understands it is trying to add some of its members to the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released under the deal.

Although Israeli negotiators have reached an agreement following months of negotiations, it cannot be implemented until it is approved by the Security Cabinet and the government.