Last day in Gaza

IDF set to hand over control over Gaza Strip to Palestinian Authority, bringing to an end 38 years of Israeli control over the area. Exactly 100 soldiers and other security forces personnel killed in Gaza during four and a half years of intifada

Ronny Sofer|Last update: 09.11.05 , 09:16

Israel leaves Gaza: The IDF will be handing over responsibility over the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority Sunday, bringing to an end 38 years of Israeli control in the area.

Also Sunday, the government will vote on the contentious question of razing Gaza Strip synagogues. At this time, there is majority in the cabinet for leaving the synagogues intact.

Later, Gaza Division Commander Aviv Kochavi is expected to transfer control over Gaza to his Palestinian counterpart. However, a senior Palestinian official said overnight the Palestinians would not be represented in the handover ceremony because “the Israelis did not provide answers regarding the border crossings, and particularly Rafah.”

Egypt assumes control over Philadelphi route (Photo: AFP)

Regardless of Palestinian participation, at 7 p.m. local time the Israeli flag will be lowered at the Gaza Division headquarters, and following a short ceremony, the soldiers will move out to the checkpoints. Meanwhile, Egyptian forces have deployed on the Philadelphi route and raised Egyptian flags over the posts there.

If the cabinet decides to raze the synagogues after all, they will be blown up by the IDF Sunday night. Security officials estimate that the demolition of synagogues would not delay the Gaza departure.

“In any event, the plans for execution exist and the forces have been directed and are prepared,” an IDF Southern Command source told Ynet.

Starting on August 15, during a total of 27 days, about 8,500 Jewish settlers were removed from the Strip along with hundreds of tons of military and agricultural equipment. Overall, about 25,000 forces directly took part in the Gaza pullout.

The four and a half years of intifada took their toll in Gaza, with settlements and IDF soldiers securing them coming under numerous attacks. Ynet has found that during the intifada, exactly 100 soldiers and other members of the security establishment lost their lives in the Strip.

The figures do not include two deaths reported in Gaza over the weekend, which were apparently the result of suicide. On Monday, an IDF soldier from the Givati brigade was found shot in the head with his weapon next to him. In a similar incident, a Golani soldier was also found dead elsewhere in Gaza. Military Police are still investigating both cases.

Terror groups perpetrated many attacks on both settlers and troops, resorting to various means to sow death. In the years 2002-2003, tanks were targeted by powerful explosive devices, while in 2004 Palestinians used explosive-laden tunnels. At one point, two separate attacks in Gaza and on the Philadelphi route killed 11 soldiers in a period of 36 hours, leading to a wave of protests against the stay in Gaza.

'This is a difficult day'

Former head of the Gaza Beach Regional Council Avner Shimoni told Ynet: “This is a difficult day in the life of the State of Israel…I sincerely hope we shall not pay a heavy toll for this withdrawal in the future, because eventually, if you run away from terror, terror will come after you.”

“I hope the prime minister will pay a heavy political price for this escape, which will take form in his dismissal,” Shimoni said.

Only a few of the 1,250 families evacuated from Gaza have found permanent residence to date. Leaders of the Gaza evacuees are presently looking into the possibility of reestablishing the Gush in the western Negev desert, although they estimate that eventually the evacuees will settle in two main areas: One in Nitzan, north of the southern town of Ashkelon, and the other in the vicinity of Urim-Zeelim-Kissufim in the Negev.

None of the evacuee groups is considering resettling across the Green Line, apart from the Netzarim evacuees who have already moved to the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

Fatah parade in Gaza (Photo: AP)

In addition to the removal of army equipment from Gaza, this weekend saw the completion of the operation to remove agricultural equipment from Gush Katif. Some 6,500 volunteers known as the “Yoel Force” and headed by Yoel Marshak of kibbutz Givat Hashlosha dismantled hothouses and agricultural equipment.

The World Bank has by now paid USD 6 million as compensation for farmers for their hothouses and equipment. Another NIS 6.5 million will be transferred following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.