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Israeli army leaves Beit Hanoun Israeli army leaves Beit Hanoun
(about 1 hour later)
The Israeli army says it has withdrawn from the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.The Israeli army says it has withdrawn from the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.
The military left at dawn on Tuesday after a six-day operation in the town, but left soldiers in surrounding areas.The military left at dawn on Tuesday after a six-day operation in the town, but left soldiers in surrounding areas.
"We withdrew our forces from Beit Hanoun after having completed our mission," said an army spokesman."We withdrew our forces from Beit Hanoun after having completed our mission," said an army spokesman.
About 50 Palestinians died during the operation. Israel says it is targeting rocket-firing Palestinian militants operating from northern Gaza.About 50 Palestinians died during the operation. Israel says it is targeting rocket-firing Palestinian militants operating from northern Gaza.
The entire town of Beit Hanoun had been under Israeli control and troops ordered residents to stay indoors.
Our correspondent says this caused severe shortages of water and power, and the arrival of a small United Nations aid convoy on Monday sparked frantic scenes.
Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank since the capture of an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June.
Despite the crackdown, a rocket hit the Israeli border town of Sderot on Sunday, but no-one was hurt.
The European Union presidency, currently held by Finland, issued a statement deploring "the growing number of civilian casualties the Israeli military operation has caused".
The International Red Cross also criticised Israel for the killing of two medical workers, saying that the paramedics and their vehicle were clearly marked.