Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into the most heavily destroyed part of the Gaza Strip as Israel lifted its closure of the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas in accordance with a fragile ceasefire.

Israeli troops pull back but maintain a watchful eye on the tens of thousands of Gazans who had been displaced during the 15 months of fighting.

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.