Gaza Strip, May 24: The Israeli army has ended a six-day siege of Tel Sultan in the Gaza Strip. Troops first moved in the area last Tuesday in Operation Rainbow, which Israel said was to destroy tunnels used for arms smuggling from Egypt.
Subsequent fighting left more than 40 Palestinians dead, and dozens of houses were demolished.
A military source said the redeployment was to "ease conditions for Palestinians", although Israeli troops remain in nearby Rafah.
Operation Rainbow is part of preparations for a pullout from the area envisaged by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The original proposals were rejected by his Likud party and a revised plan will be presented to the cabinet in a week's time. The new formula reportedly calls for a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements in stages, instead of all at once.
Bureau Report