Israel leaves Gaza Strip after 38 years
September 13, 2005

Following the government's decision to end the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip and along the Philadelphi Corridor, Israel Defense Forces units completed their withdrawal from these areas Monday morning, transferring responsibility to the Palestinian Authority and ending the military administration in the Gaza Strip after 38 years.
A small military ceremony held at the IDF Gaza Division base near Neve Dekalim marked the end of Israel's control over the Gaza Strip.

Photo: IDF

The completion of the withdrawal ends the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip, which began 38 years and three months ago, during the Six Day War, in June 1967.

From this point on, the full responsibility for events occurring in the Gaza Strip and for thwarting terror attacks against Israeli targets will be in the hands of the Palestinian Authority and its apparatuses.

IDF forces will be relocated along the new deployment lines surrounding the Gaza Strip in order to provide the residents of the area with necessary security and protection.

Since 1967, 87 Israeli civilians and 179 members of the Israeli security forces were killed in the Gaza Strip - of these 43 civilians and 97 members of the security forces were killed since September 2000. In addition, 1,074 civilians and 3,777 members of the security forces were wounded since 1967. Of these, 749 civilians and 668 members of the security forces were wounded since September 2000.