Israel started redeploying troops out of sections of Gaza over the weekend as it began considering the next stage of Operation Protective Edge. Palestinian civilians confirmed seeing soldiers leaving their cities.

Israel has not entirely left the Palestinian coastal enclave with forces positioned up to half a mile inside Gaza in non-residential areas as repairs are made to the border fence.

The last of Hamas’ known terror tunnels were slated for demolition by the evening of August 3 (local time).

The reassessment appeared to have taken place during a cabinet meeting  Tel-Aviv on August 1 and then in subsequent and ongoing talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz.

In addressing the public on Aug. 2 Netanyahu made it clear “all options remain on the table.”

Netanyahu told the military that they:

“will prepare for continuing action according to our security needs… We promised to return quiet to Israel and that is what we will do… We will continue to act until that goal is reached, however long it will take and with as much force as needed.”

[Photo: David Katz / The Israel Project]