Israel says it has killed thousands of the armed group’s members and destroyed much of its infrastructure, but since the cease-fire started Hamas has shown it still holds power in the enclave.

After 15 months of war, the fighting in Gaza has paused. Aid is now getting into the region, bringing things such as food and medicine to the people living there. And those who had to flee the areas where the fighting was at its most intense are now making their way back home.

With a ceasefire agreement pausing the war between Israel and Hamas, Israeli troops have withdrawn from Gaza city centers. For the first time in eight months, NPR got a glimpse of Rafah this week.

Gaza's Hamas authorities said more than 300,000 people, or almost half of those displaced from the north during the war, had crossed into Gaza City and the north edge of the enclave.

Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians traveled along the coast of Gaza on Jan. 27 to the north of the enclave after Israel opened roadblocks.