16 October 2004	Saturday	01 Ramazan 1425

JABALYA REFUGEE CAMP, Oct 15: The Israeli army on Friday pulled its forces out of a refugee camp in northern Gaza, where dozens of troops have mounted a massive offensive to stop militants from firing rockets into Israel.

Dozens of tanks and armoured carriers left the Jabalya refugee camp and redeployed to its outskirts. They also said Israeli forces began moving away from residential areas of the nearby Beit Lahiya refugee camp.

A military source said Israeli forces would continue to target rocket launchers in the area. The redeployment is meant to ease restrictions on Palestinian civilians during Ramazan, the source said.

Israel launched its northern Gaza offensive, one of its biggest and bloodiest in four years of conflict, after a rocket salvo killed two children in the town of Sderot on Sept 29.

The army has killed more than 100 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, during the assault. Three Israelis and a Thai farm worker have also lost their lives. -Reuters