MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) – Israeli troops have left the Gaza Strip as the 72-hour ceasefire has begun, AFP reported Tuesday citing a military spokesman.
“There were a number of forces inside … but all of them have left,” the agency quoted General Moti Almoz as saying.
Earlier reports said Israeli troops have destroyed underground tunnels in Gaza, completing a ground operation launched on July 17.
The ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian groups led by Hamas, reached with Egypt's mediation, began at 05:00 GMT and is supposed to last for 72 hours.
Both parties are expected to begin indirect talks on the final settlement of the conflict in the Gaza Strip soon after the ceasefire has taken effect.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive on July 8, targeting the Hamas movement and its allied groups of rebels. On July 17, following days of fighting, Tel Aviv switched to a ground offensive to destroy the network of Hamas tunnels around the border area.
The total number of those killed in course of the four-week long operation has reached 1,800 Palestinians, mostly civilians. A total of 66 Israelis and a Thai worker have died.
