Israel pulls out of Gaza Strip after 38-year occupation

ISRAEL'S army was to begin its operation to pull out of the Gaza Strip last night after the cabinet gave the final green light for the historic withdrawal from the territory after a 38-year occupation.

Operation Last Watch which should see the last troops leave around dawn today, after which responsibility for the territory will pass formally to the Palestinian Authority.

The last potential stumbling block, a wrangle over the fate of around 20 synagogues, was brushed aside when ministers voted to leave the structures standing and leave their fate up to the Palestinians.