The IDF completed its withdrawal from Gaza Tuesday night even as Gaza terrorists launched another mortar shelling attack on the Eshkol region. No one was injured or wounded.
Israel previously announced that it would halt offensive attacks in Gaza as of 2 a.m. Sunday and would withdraw all soldiers only after a cessation to Hamas attacks on southern Israel. Hamas in turn announced it would hold fire for seven days, the period of time it said the IDF must complete the withdrawal.
However, the removal of the troops was completed within three days, with virtually all of the soldiers out of heavily populated areas. The army also released all reservists. Nevertheless, Hamas continued rifle and mortar attacks on soldiers in Gaza and civilians in the kibbutz and Moshav farm areas bordering Gaza.
Military analysts estimated that Hamas purposely did not fire rockets on southern Israel in order to limit Israel's diplomatic ability to justify another assault on the terrorist infrastructure.
The Israel Air Force knocked out a mortar launching cell Tuesday following the firing of eight mortar shells during the day, but the attacks resumed near midnight.