The agreement, which must still be approved by the Israeli cabinet, incited joy in the Gaza Strip and Israel, even as some feared that it could fall apart.

Israel intensified strikes on Gaza hours after a ceasefire and hostage release deal was announced, killing 32 people in an attack late on Wednesday. The heavy bombardment in Gaza City continued overnight into Thursday morning, destroying houses in Rafah in the south, Nuseirat in central Gaza, as well as in the north, residents said.