TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israel's military has been discussing the prospect of delaying its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank amid logistical difficulties and increasing Palestinian attacks.

Military sources said the General Staff has concluded that the withdrawal and eviction of 10,000 Jews from these areas would take place under Palestinian fire. They said most of the military brass has advised a delay of the withdrawal operation until early 2006.

"There's chaos right now in the Palestinian Authority and Hamas and others are taking advantage of this," a military source said. "We have to first stabilize the situation before we withdraw or else we will come under heavy fire within Israel as well."

The sources said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon supports a delay in the withdrawal, scheduled for Aug. 15. They said Ya'alon has concluded that Hamas rather than the PA controls the Gaza Strip.