TEL AVIV, Sept 3: The Israeli military said on Saturday it would complete its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip by Sept 15, but threatened to strike the territory hard if the Jewish state came under threat.

The head of army logistics, Gen Eran Ofir, told public radio: “I think that we will have finished the operation of transferring all military installations in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank by Sept 15.”

Israel evacuated its 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip last month, as it moved to end its 38-year occupation of the coastal strip, which is home to 1.3 million Palestinians.

In the past two weeks, the army has been busy demolishing both the settlements and the bases from which it used to protect them as it prepares to turn the land over to the Palestinians.

But the defence ministry warned on Saturday that it would not spare the Gaza Strip if militants used the territory to launch attacks after the Israeli pullout.

“After the withdrawal, there will be no tolerance for any shots fired towards Israeli towns,” said Amos Gilad, security and policy adviser to Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.

“Those who strike our population will pay a very high price. We will act in a manner that will have the effect of dissuading them,” Mr Gilad told public radio.

He refused to disavow comments by chief of staff Gen Dan Halutz that Israel would respond disproportionately in the event of mortar or rocket strikes from the Gaza Strip on Israeli towns.—AFP