IDF: Pullout may be over by week’s end

Security forces scheduled to evacuate Gaza settlements of Katif and Atzmona on Sunday; security officials expect only passive resistance from the residents. On Monday evacuation of Netzarim set to take place; despite assessments that locals may physically resist evacuation, agreement being formulated between security officials and residents may ensure a peaceful, concentrated evacuation

By Hanan Greenberg
Latest Update: 08.21.05, 00:03 / Israel News

The security establishment prepares for the continued evacuation of Gaza Strip residents and the demolition of settler homes: The IDF says it intends to complete the evacuation part of the disengagement within the week, meaning security forces are set to operate in the northern West Bank settlements of Homesh and Sa-Nur as well, after which the demolition of settler homes will be completed and the military withdrawal from Gaza would begin.

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The withdrawal of security forces from Gaza is expected to last between 2 to four weeks and would mark the completion of the disengagement plan on the ground.

IDF and police forces are scheduled to evacuate the Gaza settlements of Katif and Atzmona on Sunday; security officials expect only passive resistance from the residents.

On Monday the evacuation of the north Gaza settlement of Netzarim is set to take place. Despite assessments that the locals may physically resist the evacuation, an agreement being formulated between the security establishment and the residents may ensure a peaceful and concentrated pullout from the settlement.

The locals held a ceremony in honor of the Simshon Battalion soldiers who secured their settlement for more than two years.

IDF fears looting

As of today, 3,500 citizens were forcibly evacuated from Gaza, including 2,000 residents and 1,500 ideological infiltrators or those who received entry permits to the area during the past few weeks but did not leave Gaza after their permits had expired.

Meanwhile, the IDF is keeping a close watch on evacuated settler homes to avoid acts of looting.

During the weekend the IDF has begun to dig 8-meter (26 feet) deep ditches between the Palestinian and Israeli areas to prevent the Palestinian parades from advancing toward Israeli-controlled land.

First Published: 08.20.05, 23:19

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