- Title: ISRAEL: Israeli tanks and soldiers leave Gaza
- Date: 5th August 2014
- Summary: ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER, ISRAEL (AUGUST 5, 2014) (REUTERS) COLUMN OF TANKS EXITING GAZA VARIOUS OF TANKS ON SANDY TRACK, SMOKE BILLOWING ON TOP OF TANK, SOLDIER COLUMN OF TANKS DRIVING AWAY COLUMN OF TANKS AT STANDSTILL RED SMOKE NEAR TANK TANK DRIVING COLUMN OF TANKS DRIVING AWAY, SOME WITH ISRAELI FLAGS TANK DRIVING, SMOKE BILLOWING TANKS PARKED SOLDIERS NEAR ARMOURED VEHICL
- Embargoed: 20th August 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACIOMR4TM79PNVQFGAJZM8C7I2
- Story Text: Israel pulled its ground forces out of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday (August 5) and began a 72-hour truce with Hamas mediated by Egypt as a first step towards negotiations on a more enduring end to the month-old war.
The ceasefire started at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT).
Throughout the day, Israeli armour and infantry withdrew from the Gaza Strip, with a military spokesman saying their main goal of destroying cross-border infiltration tunnels had been completed.
Troops and tanks would be "redeployed in defensive positions outside the Gaza Strip and we will maintain those defensive positions", spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said, reflecting Israeli readiness to resume fighting if attacked.
Several previous truce attempts by Egypt and other regional powers, overseen by the United States and United Nations, failed to calm the worst Israeli-Palestinian fighting in two years.
Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,834 Palestinians, most of them civilians. Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed since fighting began on July 8, after a surge in Palestinian rocket launches.
Israel was expected to send delegates to join talks in Cairo to cement a longer-term deal during the course of the truce. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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