Israeli Troops Finally Out?

About 1,300 Palestinians dead, $2 billion in damage and thousands of devastated families later, Israel claims it has officially pulled its troops from the Gaza Strip after its three-week assault—with no formal deal between Israel and Hamas and thus no real change in relations between the two sides.

The BBC:

The Israeli army says it has completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, following a three-week assault against militants from the Hamas group.

Its troops will remain near the border and its spy-planes continue to fly over Gaza, and its navy vessels are still firing sporadically at Gaza’s beaches.

Earlier, the UN urged Israel to fully open all of Gaza’s borders to allow reconstruction work to begin.

Aid agencies estimate it could cost up to $2bn to repair the damage.

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Maan Images / Mohamed Al-Zanon

After three weeks of destruction, Israel Defense Forces have pulled out of Gaza Strip. Though they still patrol Gaza’s borders. And the Israeli navy is still firing onto Gaza’s beaches. And spy planes are still flying over Gaza.