Israel scales back Gaza offensive

Israel began scaling back its 17 day offensive in the Gaza Strip today after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon heeded the army’s warning that an extended stay is too risky and the US called for a quick withdrawal.

Sharon’s decision came just hours after he told MPs that Operation Days of Penitence, meant to stop Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli communities, would continue and even be expanded.

The prime minister’s apparent U-turn reflected his dilemma: continued Palestinian rocket attacks undermine support for his planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, while a major military offensive invites international criticism because of heavy Palestinian casualties and does not stop the rocket fire entirely.

Since the start of the Israeli campaign, triggered by a deadly rocket attack on the border town of Sderot, 108 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded. Among the dead were dozens of civilians, including 18 children.

Israeli tanks and bulldozers have left behind a swathe of destruction in northern Gaza, damaging houses, tearing up water pipes and knocking down electricity poles as they charged through narrow alleys of densely populated areas.

In an 18 page report, the United Nations wrote that Israel has engaged in “massive and wanton destruction of property” in Gaza. The report, written before the current Gaza operation, said that while some of Israel’s actions can be explained by security concerns, many cannot.

The Israeli offensive focused on the Jebaliya refugee camp and the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, the main launching grounds for homemade Qassam rockets.

Sharon and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz decided on Thursday night to redeploy in northern Gaza and withdraw some of the troops.

A security official said military commanders told Sharon the operation has played itself out.

By this afternoon, more than 10 tanks had withdrawn across the Gaza border into southern Israel, and military trucks were taking the tanks away. The army declined to provide details, saying only that it was acting “in accordance with the decisions of the political echelon.”

Deputy defence minister Zeev Boim said troops would not pull withdraw from northern Gaza entirely. “The operation has not ended.”

He said the pullback was a gesture to Palestinians at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, which began today. ”We have no desire to make it difficult for the population,” he said.