Israeli forces cleared the last Jewish settlers and protesters from Gaza resistance strongholds this morning to end almost four decades of occupation of the area.
The army said it had finished evacuating Neve Dekalim, the biggest settlement, and Kfar Darom, scene of the worst clashes between security forces and opponents of uprooting the first enclaves from land that Palestinians seek for a state.
Last night day, police used cranes and water cannon to battle protesters on the roof of Kfar Darom's synagogue. They fought back with rocks, paint-filled light bulbs and acid. The army said 31 security personnel were hurt.
Pullout opponents were also dragged kicking and screaming from Neve Dekalim's synagogue after troops moved in.
Television footage beamed around the world showed Israeli forces for hours forcibly evacuating settlers, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had shown courage by carrying out the pullout.
The latest evacuations brought the number of Gaza's 8,500 settlers evacuated to well over 80 per cent. Hundreds of rightist pullout opponents have also been expelled or detained. The army said 160 were arrested in Kfar Darom.
Israeli opponents call the withdrawal a victory for Palestinian militants - a view echoed by the gunmen - as well as the betrayal of a Biblical claim that could set a precedent elsewhere.
Mr Sharon dubs the pullout "disengagement" from conflict, and most Israelis back it. Political analysts say it could also reduce foreign pressure to give up bigger settlements in the West Bank, land the Palestinians also seek.
Palestinians welcome the withdrawal of the Gaza settlers and another 500 from the West Bank, but they fear Israel aims to keep most of the other communities housing 230,000 settlers forever.
Some 3.8 million Palestinians live in Gaza and the West Bank.