The Israeli government has voted to approve a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, clearing the way for the war in Gaza to halt for a 42-day period. It is scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m. Sunday,

Early Saturday morning, Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal for a cease-fire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was treating the ceasefire as temporary and retained the right to continue fighting if necessary.