Smoke rises inside the Gaza Strip, before a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas goes into effect, as seen from southern Israel, January 18, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters The story so far: After 15 months of fighting,

Even before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was fully in place, Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip began to return to the remains of the homes they had evacuated during the 15-month war.

A ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants is being discussed by American, Egyptian and Qatari negotiators, while Gaza and West Bank bombings continue.