Israeli Troops Pull Tanks back from Southern Gaza Strip

Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli army has already withdrawn tanks from southern Gaza Strip's Netzarim Jewish settlement and removed the barrier on a road in this area.

The movement appeared to be the starting of Israel's implementation the announced Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire. Traffic in this area is now going smoothly, the eyewitnesses said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Thursday morning ordered the army not to pull out of certain areas "where the Palestinians do not observe the ceasefire agreement."

The order came after mortar shells were fired on the Jewish settlement of Rafiah Yam in southern Gaza Strip Thursday morning and shooting attacks occurred in several areas in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank Wednesday evening.

An Israeli was killed in a shooting attack south of Jerusalem Thursday morning while a Palestinian child was seriously injured on a road near Beit Hanon, south of Jerusalem, by Israeli fire.

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