GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says it has pulled most of its ground troops out of the Gaza Strip, after destroying most of the tunnels it found beneath the border.
But it’s not clear if that means the nearly month-long conflict with Hamas is nearing an end.
Hamas is vowing to continue the battle. And heavy fighting still raged today in parts of Gaza.
At least 10 people were killed in what U.N. and Palestinian officials say was an Israeli airstrike near a school serving as a U.N. shelter. The United States and the United Nations have condemned the attack and called for an investigation.
Israel launched its military operation July 8 in response to weeks of heavy rocket fire from Gaza. It sent in ground forces July 17 to destroy the network of tunnels it says were used by Hamas to carry out attacks.
More than 1,800 Palestinians are believed to have died in the bloodiest round of fighting ever between the two enemies. Israel’s death toll is nearly 70, including 64 soldiers.
About 15,000 people attended a funeral today for an Israeli soldier who was feared captured in Gaza but was found to have died in battle.
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