Jewish settlers in the last Gaza settlement of Netzarim to be evacuated today began boarding armoured buses that will drive them out of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli police today surrounded an encampment of opponents to the Gaza withdrawal, pushing back a surging crowd marching against the plans to demolish Jewish settlements.

Israeli police today pledged to stop more than 20,000 marchers, including teenagers with backpacks and parents with pushchairs, who were en route to the Gaza Strip to protest the summer's planned withdrawal – in the tensest showdown yet between protesters and the security forces.