Gaza City, Oct 12: Israeli troops have pulled out of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah after a major raid in which eight Palestinians were killed, Palestinian security sources and a reporter at the scene said. At least 40 Israeli tanks were seen withdrawing from the Rafah refugee camp and retreating to the border area which is under Israeli control late yesterday, they said.
The town lies on the Gaza Strip's southern border with Egypt.
An Israeli military source confirmed the pullback, but said such raids would continue as long as the smuggling activities continued.
"Some forces are stepping out," he said, without giving details. "But the activity is still ongoing, forces are still there and it will go on as long as the smuggling activity continues."
Eight Palestinians were killed and some 80 injured during the two day army raid, launched overnight Thursday in a bid to expose and destroy cross-border tunnels Israel says are used for smuggling weapons from Egypt.
Palestinian officials said 45 houses were destroyed in the raid, in which Israeli troops uncovered three such smuggling tunnels. Bureau Report