Israel's prime minister says his country is ready to go back to war in Gaza if negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas collapses.

President Biden said in an MSNBC interview that he pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent civilian deaths during the Gaza war. He also defended his steadfast support for Israel.

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, mediator Qatar announced Saturday.

Israeli government approves ceasefire agreement. Ceasefire to begin in Gaza Sunday morning, hostages to be released in the afternoon.

The outgoing U.S. President, Joe Biden, on Thursday urged the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to find a way to address the legitimate concerns of Palestinians for the long-term sustainability of Israel.

Long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is due to begin at 630am GMT on Sunday – but hostages’ families and Palestinians all fear the deal could fall at the final hurdle

TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a "last minute crisis" with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages. Israeli airstrikes meanwhile killed dozens of people across the war-ravaged territory.

Several Palestinians expressed hope for peace after mediators announced a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel had been reached.

Outgoing Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has to find a way to accommodate the legitimate concerns" of Palestinians for the long term sustainability of Israel.

Netanyahu said that Israel will not proceed with the ceasefire deal until Hamas provides a list of hostages to be freed, he added, Israel will not tolerate any violations of the agreement and holds Hamas fully responsible.

Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas are expected to be freed in this phase of the ceasefire deal mediated by Qatar. In exchange, Israel will also free around 2,000 Palestinians who are currently lodged in multiple prisons.