Israel intensified strikes on Gaza hours after a ceasefire and hostage release deal was announced, residents and authorities in the Palestinian enclave said, and mediators sought to quell fighting ahead of the truce's start on Sunday.

Negotiators said a deal between Israel and Hamas was closer than ever even as Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued, killing at least 13.

Israel bombarded Gaza with air strikes hours after a ceasefire and hostage release deal was announced, killing 32 people in an attack late on Wednesday. The strikes 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.