ISRAELI troops pulled back from two neighbourhoods in the sprawling Palestinian refugee camp of Rafah, leaving behind 40 dead and dozens of demolished and damaged homes, torn up roads and flattened cars.

Israeli troops pulled back from two neighbourhoods in the sprawling Palestinian refugee camp of Rafah, leaving behind dozens of demolished and damaged homes, torn up roads and flattened cars.

Israeli troops and tanks began pulling out of the Rafah refugee camp early today, residents said, after a three-day sweep that left 39 Palestinians dead.