The first phase of the ceasefire that paused 15 months of brutal warfare between Israel and Hamas militants is set to end on Saturday — and it's unclear what comes next. The two sides were supposed to start negotiating a second phase weeks ago in which Hamas would release all the remaining hostages from its Oct.

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to exchange the bodies of four hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli source told CNN, indicating the fragile Gaza ceasefire remains intact for now.

The United States said talks for a second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal were on track, as Hamas said Israel agreed to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

Hamas is set to free six more Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip. The release scheduled for Saturday would also involve freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel is seeking an indefinite extension to the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza rather than moving to a planned second stage designed to lay the groundwork for a more lasting settlement, several people familiar with the matter have said.

Israeli Defence Forces on Wednesday said a projectile was launched from Gaza amid the fragile three-phased ceasefire.