Israel completes Gaza withdrawl
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
The Israel military has announced it has completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
However, troops remain around the Palestinian territory and Israeli vessels remains in Gaza's territorial waters.
"The last soldier left the Gaza Strip this morning," an Israeli military official said on Wednesday, warning the troops on the outskirts would remain to "meet any eventuality".
The withdrawal is also said to be conditional upon the end of rocket attacks from the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The United Nations (UN) earlier called on Israel to allow aid and goods to flow freely into the Gaza Strip now that ceasefires appear to have been agreed.
The UN humanitarian chief John Holmes told reporters in New York on Tuesday it was critical building materials were allowed into the Palestinian territory so the region could be reconstructed as soon as possible.
Mr Holmes is expected to visit Israel on Wednesday, with EU foreign ministers also due to meet with Israeli representatives to discuss the fallout from the conflict.
More than 1,300 Palestinians are reported to have died during Israel's three-week offensive, including some 400 children.
Another 5,000 people are thought to have been injured, with 13 Israelis also dying.
Yesterday UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon expressed his anger and sorrow at the shelling of a UN compound in Gaza by Israeli forces and called for a full investigation.
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