CNN.com
Israel says it plans swift Gaza withdrawal
* Story Highlights
* Israeli officials say military exit from Gaza could be complete by Tuesday
* Withdrawal began Sunday after cease-fire declaration
* In 22-day conflict, more than 1,200 Palestinians, 13 Israelis reported
dead
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel plans to have its troops out of Gaza as soon as
possible after the weekend cease-fire that ended three weeks of fighting in the
Palestinian territory, Israeli officials said Monday.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry official said that the pullout, which already had
begun Sunday, could be finished by Tuesday evening.
The official, who declined to be named, said that the withdrawal could be
complete before U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes his oath of office in
Washington at noon ET Tuesday -- 7 p.m. in Israel -- though commanders have not
been given that deadline.
The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that it had begun withdrawing some troops
from Gaza, and Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Sunday that troops
would be out in a matter of days, not weeks.
The moves follow separate cease-fire declarations by Israel, which mounted a
three-week offensive aimed at crippling the territory's Hamas rulers, and by
Palestinian factions in Gaza that have been firing rockets into southern Israel.
During 22 days of fighting, Palestinian officials in Gaza have reported more
than 1,200 Palestinians killed, while Israel has reported 13 Israelis killed.
Palestinian medical sources said 23 bodies were pulled from rubble Sunday in
Gaza, adding to the Palestinian toll.
In Washington, a top Obama aide said the president-elect would move swiftly to
work on the Middle East after he replaces President Bush in the White House.
"The events around the world demand that he act quickly, and I think you'll see
him act quickly," David Axelrod told CNN. But he refused to promise Obama would
name a Middle East special envoy "on Day One."
There is no mutual cease-fire agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians
-- each side has made its own unilateral declaration of a cease-fire. Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday the Israeli offensive had achieved its
goals but reserved the right to respond to any Palestinian violence against
Israelis.
Israel said it launched the offensive in Gaza to stop the firing of rockets --
primarily the short-range homemade Qassam rockets -- from the territory into
southern Israel by Hamas fighters. VideoWatch CNN's Nic Robertson report from
an Israeli border town »
But Palestinians fired at least 19 rockets into Israel on Sunday -- including
at least two after the Palestinian cease-fire declaration, according to Israeli
police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld. At least three people were wounded in those
attacks, and Israeli military aircraft retaliated, firing missiles and
destroying a rocket launcher, a military spokesman said.
In its declaration, which appeared to cover all Palestinian militant factions,
Hamas demanded that Israel remove all troops from Gaza within the week and open
border crossings to humanitarian aid and basic goods.
Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 and wrested control of Gaza from
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement in 2007. Abbas,
who still controls the West Bank, called for the cease-fire to hold Sunday.
"We hope that it continues and that the situation calms down and that
humanitarian aid delivery begins immediately to our people," Abbas said at a
summit in Egypt.
CNN's Kevin Flower in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
All AboutIsrael • Gaza • Hamas
Links referenced within this article
Israel
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Israel
Gaza
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Gaza_Strip
Watch CNN's Nic Robertson report from an Israeli border town »
#cnnSTCVideo
Hamas
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Hamas
Israel
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Israel
Gaza
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Gaza_Strip
Hamas
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Hamas
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