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Israeli ground troops pull out of Gaza

Published: March 3, 2008 at 7:32 AM

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Palestinian relatives of an Israeli air strike victim mourn at the hospital in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip on March 2, 2008. Israel has kept up its deadly assault on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas halted all contacts with the Jewish state over the blitz threatening to sink peace talks. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad)

JERUSALEM, March 3 (UPI) -- Israeli troops Monday pulled out of Gaza, prompting hamas to declare victory in the recent cross-border fighting in which more than 100 people died.

The withdrawal from Hamas-controlled Gaza is a reversal of Sunday's recommendations by Israeli military leaders to keep up pressure, Haaretz reported.

Even though ground troops left, a government spokesman said, "We will continue with our defensive actions against those who fire lethal rockets at our civilians."

Hamas spokesman Taher a-Nunu told the Jerusalem Post Hamas leadership asked several Arab countries to intervene in in reaching a cease-fire with Israel. He said Hamas had invited Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa to visit the Gaza Strip as a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.

He said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II' title='King Abdullah II' class='tpstyle'>King Abdullah II were the only Arab leaders who were actively working toward reaching a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

A dozen Palestinians died in the Gaza Strip Sunday, some in clashes that day with Israeli soldiers and other from injuries sustained in skirmishes Saturday, Haaretz said.

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