AL QUDS, April 20: The Israeli army on Monday began removing equipment from bases in the Gaza Strip in preparation for the pullout from the territory as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned the withdrawal would be followed by Palestinian looting. A spokesman for the military said “non-essential” equipment was being transferred outside the territory in order to ensure the plan to evacuate troops and settlers can proceed as quickly as possible.

“In order to complete disengagement as quickly as possible, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has begun to remove logistical equipment and infrastructure from their bases in the Gaza Strip,” the spokesman told AFP.

“Around 30 containers are due to leave a base in the southern Gaza Strip today to just outside the territory.”

The army and 8,000 Jewish settlers are all due to be evacuated from the occupied territory in an operation due to begin later this summer.

The spokesman said the equipment being transferred involved non-essential items such as computers, clothing and furniture.

“It does not involve security or defence infrastructure,” he said. “It is not diluting our ability to defend Israeli citizens.”

The move comes a day after Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz travelled to the Gush Katif settlement bloc in the south of the territory where the majority of settlers live.

During his visit, Mofaz told AFP he was willing to consider delaying the start of the pullout, currently due to begin in late July, for three weeks in order to allow observant Jews to mark a period of Jewish mourning.