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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israeli army leaves Beit Hanoun | Israeli army leaves Beit Hanoun |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Israel's army says it has pulled out of the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, after a six-day operation. | Israel's army says it has pulled out of the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, after a six-day operation. |
| "We withdrew our forces from Beit Hanoun after having completed our mission," said a military spokesman. | "We withdrew our forces from Beit Hanoun after having completed our mission," said a military spokesman. |
| Witnesses confirmed Israeli troops had left the town. The army says they took up positions in surrounding areas. | Witnesses confirmed Israeli troops had left the town. The army says they took up positions in surrounding areas. |
| About 50 Palestinians died during the operation, which Israel says has targeted rocket-firing militants operating from northern Gaza. | About 50 Palestinians died during the operation, which Israel says has targeted rocket-firing militants operating from northern Gaza. |
| The entire town of Beit Hanoun had been under Israeli control. | The entire town of Beit Hanoun had been under Israeli control. |
| Tens of thousands of residents were ordered to stay indoors, leading to shortages of electricity and water. | Tens of thousands of residents were ordered to stay indoors, leading to shortages of electricity and water. |
| Despite the crackdown, a rocket hit the Israeli border town of Sderot at the weekend, but no-one was hurt. | |
| Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank since the capture of an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June. | Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank since the capture of an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June. |
| The Israeli pull-out came as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya prepared to hold more discussions on the formation of a unity government. | The Israeli pull-out came as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya prepared to hold more discussions on the formation of a unity government. |
| The talks are designed to ease the international embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. The two men met late on Monday. | The talks are designed to ease the international embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. The two men met late on Monday. |
| Foreign donors, including the US and the European Union, have boycotted the Palestinian government over Hamas's refusal to recognise Israel or to renounce violence. | Foreign donors, including the US and the European Union, have boycotted the Palestinian government over Hamas's refusal to recognise Israel or to renounce violence. |