Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip at midnight Sunday, marking the start of its withdrawal. 48 hours later, soldiers will start forcibly evacuating those settlers remaining in the settlements, which were declared as "illegal". Police and Israeli soldiers are expected to arrive at settlers’ homes starting at 7 a.m. Monday, knock on their doors, and inform them they have 48 hours to leave their houses. Should the evacuees refuse to leave voluntarily, forces will remove them by force starting Wednesday, Ynetnews reported.
Earlier on Sunday, all the roads leading to Gaza Strip were closed by Israeli authorities for civilian vehicles.
As of early Monday, thousands of Jews remained inside the settlements, vowing to resist their eviction. Israel's Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said Sunday afternoon that the army estimates that some 5,000 radical right wing activists have infiltrated into the Gaza Strip. Halutz added that only 50 percent of the Gaza Strip settlers, say some 4,000 people, would leave their homes by August 17.
