JERUSALEM (AFP) —  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that the government had “approved the framework” of a hostage release deal with Hamas, as both sides edged closer to ending more than two years of hostilities in Gaza.

Israel previously said “all parties” had signed the first phase of a ceasefire agreement, adding that Hamas freeing the captives would “bring the end to this war.”

In a statement early on Friday, Netanyahu’s office said the government had “approved the framework for the release of all the hostages -- both the living and the deceased.”

Egypt is planning an event to celebrate the conclusion of the deal based on a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by United States (US) President Donald Trump, who said he planned to leave on Sunday for the Middle East.

Trump is expected to stop in Israel and is considering going to devastated Gaza.

The Israeli government had said the ceasefire was to take hold within 24 hours of meetings on Thursday to approve the deal, under which the military should eventually withdraw from Gaza.

Gaza’s civil defenwe agency said Friday that Israeli forces have begun pulling back from parts of the territory, particularly in Gaza City and Khan Yunis.

“Israeli forces have withdrawn from several areas in Gaza City,” said Mohammed al-Mughayyir, a senior official with the agency — a rescue force that operates under Hamas authority.

Among the districts troops were withdrawing from were Tel al-Hawa and Al-Shati camp, both of which had seen intense Israeli air and ground operations in recent weeks.

Mughayyir also said Israeli military vehicles pulled out from parts of the southern city of Khan Yunis.

Residents of several areas of the Gaza Strip also told Agence France-Presse that the Israeli military appeared to have withdrawn from positions that they held on Thursday.

Israel government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told journalists on Thursday that Israel’s military would be redeployed to the so-called Yellow Line, as they gradually withdraw under a plan proposed by Trump.

During this first part of the withdrawal process, the military will still hold about 53 percent of the Gaza Strip.

On the issue of Hamas surrendering its weapons, Trump said it would be addressed in the second phase of the peace plan.

“There will be disarming,” he told reporters, adding there would also be “pullbacks” by Israeli forces.

Senior US officials said a military team of 200 people, led by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, would be deployed in the Middle East to “oversee” the truce.