The Israeli army said on Friday that it has completed large-scale offensives in the Gaza Strip following 17 days of operation in the area.

"Israeli forces operating in the north of the Gaza Strip have begun redeploying as part of their operation aimed at reducing Qassam rocket fire on Israel," an army spokesman said.

Israeli troops began leaving the Jabalya refugee camp at around 7 pm (1700 GMT) and were expected to seek new positions on hills overlooking Jabalya and Beit Lahya, two targets of the Israeli Days of Penitence operation.

The Israeli army said that the redeployment would be completed late on Friday, and the remaining forces would keep on high alert to prevent Palestinian militants from firing Qassam rockets.

The pullout was conducted one day after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved the move in a meeting with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and other senior military officers.

The Israeli army said that the decision was made "to ease the burden on the Palestinian civilian population" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

More than 110 Palestinians were killed in the operation.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2004)