Israel steps back from Gaza

Last Modified: 03 Mar 2008
By: Jonathan Rugman

Israeli troops pull out of northern Gaza, after fighting leaves more than 100 Palestinians and three Israelis dead.

Israel launched its attack to deter militants from firing rockets over the border.

But the United Nations and European Union said its response was disproportionate and the United States expressed concern about civilian casualties.

Despite the withdrawal, rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza have continued and Israel has threatened retaliation.

On the streets of Gaza today there was what they called a victory celebration after Israel's withdrawal.

116 Palestinians have been reported killed since last Wednesday and the peace process suspended but Hamas's resistance is proof that there can be no peace without them.

This is a great victory after the past five black days, said Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar.

Outside Gaza Israeli tanks are still poised for action, though. Israel claiming it's taking a two-day break from hostilities because of tomorrow's visit by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has made it clear he hasn't finished with Gaza yet.

Olmert said: "One thing I promise you...security operations will not stop unless and until we achieve the objective of significantly reducing the firing of Qassam and Grad rockets into Israel."

But in the skies above Israel today there was evidence that the rockets are still flying.

And in Ashkelon, a city 10 miles inside Israel, one person was wounded today by a long range grad rocket the Israelis say was smuggled in from Egypt and probably built in Iran.

And there've been more than 240 such rockets and mortar strikes since the middle of last week alone.

Two Israeli soldiers and one civilian have been killed but on the Palestinian side the UN secretary general says Israel has used "excessive force".

More than half the dead here are reportedly civilians including several children. Many of them were hit by missiles fired by helicopter jets and unmanned drones, forcing Egypt to reopen its border to the wounded who are seeking medical help.

And Israel today lifted its embargo to let humanitarian aid through, with both sides mulling a possible ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, as Hamas itself has confirmed.