Israeli soldiers shot two Palestinians who approached an evacuated Gaza Strip settlement on Thursday afternoon, killing one and wounding the other, witnesses and medics said. Locals said that 20-year-old Rafah resident Bashir Sufi was killed in the incident, and that a 14-year-old boy was wounded in the leg.
Earlier, Samir Huleila, Secretary General of the Palestinian Cabinet, said on Thursday that the Israeli withdrawal would begin next Monday. Huleila affirmed that the Palestinian side was officially informed that the withdrawal would begin on Monday, adding that the process would be carried out in 24 hours. The Israeli cabinet will be asked on Sunday to approve the early withdrawal.
According to RNA, Huleila added that further Palestinian- Israeli talks would be held in the coming days in a bid to solve the debatable issues, including the issue of Rafah Crossing.
Haaretz reported that the pullout has been advanced mainly because the Israeli army finished its preparations sooner than planned. According to Israeli sources, Israel is also concerned by the growing anarchy in the Gaza Strip, exemplified by Wednesday's assassination of Moussa Arafat.
