Yemen's Houthi rebels welcomed news of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza even as a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was reported to be holding up Israeli approval of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement.

The Israeli military on Saturday said it intercepted a rocket from Yemen, one day before a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to take effect. Residents rushed to shelters as alerts sounded in Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel.

The leader of Yemen's Houthis said on Thursday that the Iran-aligned group would monitor the implementation of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the war in Gaza and continue its attacks on vessels or Israel if it is breached.

The ceasefire, approved by Israel and Hamas and set to take effect Sunday at 8:30 am local time (0630 GMT), includes an initial 42-day phase, during which more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza will halt, and 33 hostages held in Gaza will be released in exchange for the release of 735 Palestinian prisoners.

The Iranian-backed Houthis carried out two attacks on Israel on January 18, the eve of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This is an important symbol of how the Houthis intend to show that they have not been deterred by Israel’s strikes and they are prepared to continue to attack Israel if the ceasefire falls apart.