TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a deal to return Hamas-held hostages in the Gaza Strip has been reached. The announcement came a day after Netanyahu’s office said there were last-minute snags in talks to free hostages in return for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposed terms, which include the release of hostages and at least a temporary pause in fighting in Gaza, were agreed to by the Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams, the Israeli prime

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited ceasefire that would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages. Israeli airstrikes, meanwhile, killed at least 72 people in the war-ravaged territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office postponed a cabinet meeting to approve a cease-fire and hostage release deal with Hamas indefinitely, accusing the group of going back on parts of the agreement.

Mediators say Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement following weeks of negotiations, pausing a destructive 15-month war in Gaza. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says details have yet to be finalized.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.

Israel’s Cabinet won’t meet to approve an agreement for a ceasefire due to a “last-minute crisis" with Hamas holding up approval," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Here's what to know.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office had said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war.

The ceasefire as agreed to in Qatar is set to last 42 days. Over that period, 33 hostages are expected to be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, there will be a slow withdrawal of the Israeli military from urban centers in Gaza and a surge of humanitarian aid.

Israel’s cabinet approved an agreement on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that would free Israeli hostages, ending two days of debate that had underscored the pact’s fragility.The full cabinet endorsed the deal hours after the security cabinet had approved it.

Netanyahu's office said Thursday his Cabinet won't meet to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas backs down from what it called a "last minute crisis."