Israel withdraws troops from Gaza

China.org.cn, August 5, 2014

An Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) pulls back from the Gaza Strip to an army deployment area in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on Aug. 3, 2014. (Xinhua/JINI)

Israel Tuesday announced that it has pulled out all of its troops from the Gaza Strip as the 72-hour truce came into force.

"There are no Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip at the moment," a military spokesperson confirmed in a statement, adding that the military "is maintaining offensive positions around the Gaza Strip and will respond to attacks if they arise."

"No reserved forces are dismissed at the time being," the spokesperson added.

Shortly before the ceasefire began, Gaza militants fired a barrage of about 20 rockets at southern Israel and the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area, according to the military.

Meanwhile, the Israeli air force launched at least five strikes just before the truce began, according to Palestinian media.

Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, 1,868 Palestinians have been killed and more than 9470 wounded, said Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza. 67 people have been killed in Israel.