Israel to complete Gaza evacuation by mid-September

Israel will complete its evacuation of the Gaza Strip around mid-September, defence minister Shaul Mofaz said today.

Israel will complete its evacuation of the Gaza Strip around mid-September, Defnce Minister Shaul Mofaz said today.

Israel finished evacuating all 21 Gaza settlements on Monday, but has yet to clear rubble from demolished houses or dismantle military installations, and pull out its troops.

“We won’t finish before the middle of September, maybe a few days earlier, or a few days later,” Mofaz told Army Radio.

Mofaz later confirmed agreements reached to have Egypt take control of volatile Egypt-Gaza border corridor from Israeli troops.

The transfer of border supervision to the Egyptians is key to ending Israel’s 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip.

An agreement had been held up by Israeli concerns that weapons and explosives would be smuggled across the border from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula into Gaza, once its troops leave as part of the Gaza evacuation.

“This agreement gives comprehensive – and I emphasise, comprehensive - responsibility to the Egyptians regarding the prevention of weapons smuggling in the Philadelphi corridor in tunnels and above ground, into the Gaza Strip,” Mofaz told Army Radio.

Israel completed the evacuation of all 21 civilian settlements in Gaza on Monday.