Israel: All troops out of Gaza

The Israeli military said today it had withdrawn all its soldiers from the Gaza Strip.

The military said the pullout was completed before dawn.

The Jewish state sent thousands of troops into the Palestinian territory earlier this month as part of a bruising offensive against militants who have terrorised southern Israel with rocket fire for years.

Both sides declared ceasefires that went into effect on Sunday. But the truce has been shaky.

Israel reported mortar shelling from Gaza yesterday and the Palestinians said Israeli troops had shot dead two farmers since the truce took hold.

The military says some troops remained massed on the Israeli side of the border prepared to take action against renewed militant fire.