MJ Martin (24 Aug 2005)
"Israel Completes Evacuation of Gaza Under Fire"


SHIRAT HAYAM, the Gaza Strip [MENL] -- Israel has completed the evacuation of the Gaza Strip under Palestinian fire and has sent the military and police to evict Jewish residents of the northern West Bank.

The military said the five-day eviction of about 16,000 residents took place under Palestinian fire. The military said nobody was killed in the Palestinian attacks.

"During the evacuation Palestinian gunmen opened fire at IDF positions and Israeli communities on 18 separate occasions, lightly wounding two IDF soldiers," a military statement said. "Furthermore, Palestinians launched two Kassam rockets and fired 10 mortar shells. Two explosive devices were uncovered and neutralized, in addition to an explosive belt that was uncovered in the Mouassi region, that was intended to be used in a terror attack in Gush Katif."

On Monday, the military evacuated the last Jewish community of the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers and police removed several hundred people from Netsarim, located near Gaza City in the central Gaza Strip. There was no confrontation between the 64 families and authorities.