Israel begins withdrawal from Gaza

An Israeli soldier breaks up a scuffle between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in Hebron Tuesday     WEB EXCLUSIVE Brent Sadler: Israeli holding Syria accountable for Hezbollah actions

Powell, Arabs blast Israel for retaliatory raids

In this story: Israel: Attack came from Beit Hanoun Targets and casualties RELATED STORIES, SITES

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The Israeli Army on Tuesday began withdrawing from the small northeastern corner of Gaza that it had reoccupied less than 24 hours before.

Israel sent the Palestinian regional coordinating office a letter asking it to keep Palestinian policemen out of the area while the withdrawal was taking place.

VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna shows what it was like in the streets of Gaza when the attack happened Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports on the timing of the raid Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Brent Sadler has more on the unrest in the Mideast Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    AUDIO CNN's Jerrold Kessel: Danger of all-out confrontation 593K/55 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Arafat aide Ahmed Abdel Rahman: Aggression will not bring Israel any security. 477K/44 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    TRANSCRIPT Rula Amin: Israeli strikes on Syria    MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on current events in Lebanon    ALSO Jordan official discusses peace with Israelis, Palestinians Israel-Syria strife hampers U.S. policy on Iraq

Eyewitnesses in the area said bulldozers have ceased clearing the land. And steps are being taken to move Israeli tanks that had moved one kilometer into Palestinian-controlled land out of the area.

Israel said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has informed the Bush administration that Israeli troops are withdrawing from the pocket they had reoccupied.

That reoccupation had prompted U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to take both Palestinians and Israelis to task on Tuesday. He called a series of Israeli raids in Gaza an "excessive" response to "provocative" Palestinian actions. (more on Powell's comments)

Israel: Attack came from Beit Hanoun

But Israeli officials insist that when the Palestinians stop their attacks against Israelis, so too will the Israelis end their raids and occupations.

"Once the mission is fulfilled and the shooting stops or the Palestinian Authority takes action to stop it, I believe we won't need to remain there," said Israeli Brig. Gen. Ron Kitrey on Israel army radio.

Israel launched Monday's strike against a Syrian installation in Lebanon and Tuesday's raids in Gaza after mortar shells fell near the Israeli town of Sderot about 5 kilometers (3 miles) inside Israel -- the deepest mortar attack into Israel in the seven-month Palestinian-Israeli confrontation.

The newly occupied territory included the village of Beit Hanoun, where the Israelis said the mortar attacks have originated. Israeli soldiers have also been deployed along the road from Karni to Netzarim, and in points near Gush Katif.

The military wing of the Muslim group Hamas took responsibility for the mortar attack launched at Sderot in the Negev Desert, saying it was retaliating against earlier Israeli strikes at Palestinian targets. The group vowed more attacks.

Targets and casualties

The Israel Defense Forces said that the raids' targets included:

• An armored vehicle and the guard position of a training base for Arafat's elite guard unit, Force 17, in the Dir El-Balach docks.
• Tanzim Commanders' office in Dir El-Balach.
• Preventative Security headquarters in Sheich Raduan.
• The headquarters of the Commander of the Palestinian Police in Gaza.
• Destruction of Palestinian posts south of the Erez crossing.

Israeli troops shot dead 17-year-old Palestinian Bassam Zaharan in the West Bank, who Israelis said had stabbed an Israeli soldier.

In Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said a 12-year-old Palestinian boy was shot and killed near Karni Crossing and a 10-year-old boy was wounded when he walked in front of a tank at Rafah on the Egyptian border and was shot in the head.

CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna and Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.

Israel retaliates for Hezbollah attack
April 14, 2001

Lebanese Armed Forces
Lebanese Presidential Palace
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Israeli Prime Minister's Office
Knesset, Israeli Parliament
Israel Defense Forces
Permanent Mission of Israel to the U.N.

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