Israelis: IDF forces out of Rafah camp
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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli military officials said Monday evening that all Israeli troops and tanks have withdrawn from Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza, marking the end of Operation Rainbow.
The officials said that during the operation three arms-smuggling tunnels under the border into Egypt were found and destroyed, 40 armed militants were killed, and other wanted militants were arrested.
Twelve civilians were killed and 56 buildings were destroyed during the mission, according to the officials.
Before the operation was launched last Tuesday, Israeli military commanders said they had received intelligence that arms were waiting across the border in Egypt to be smuggled into Gaza.
They said the arms included surface-to-air missiles capable of hitting Israeli cities -- portending a major escalation in the conflict. (Full story)
The pullout began Friday. Ra'anan Gissin, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said at the time the pullout indicated the operation had been successful, despite international criticism.
He also said the withdrawal did not mean the Israel Defense Forces' work was complete in the area.
"Sustained operations against the infrastructure of the tunnels, and against those who are perpetrating the smuggling of weapons and continued action against Israeli citizens and Israeli towns and villages, will continue as necessary," Gissin said.
As the troops pulled out, they dropped pamphlets in Palestinian neighborhoods with the warning: "Do not give aid to terrorists."
The United Nations passed a resolution Wednesday condemning the killing of Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza and calling on Israel to stop demolishing homes. Israel says the smuggling tunnels often run under homes. (Full story)
The United States abstained from the vote, rather than vetoing it, as it has done with past U.N. resolutions aimed at Israel.
A White House statement said the Israeli operation in Gaza did not appear to "serve the purposes of peace and security."
