JERUSALEM, Aug. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)expects all its soldiers to have left the Gaza Strip by the end of September, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported on its online editionon Wednesday.

    The IDF had originally expected to withdraw from Gaza by Sept.15, but IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz now believed that the IDF would need another 10 to 14 days to evacuate all its bases and personnel from the strip, said the report.

    The IDF forces' withdrawal will come after finishing the possessions of removal of settlers and demolition of their houses,which will be around Sept. 3, said Halutz.

    Israel has announced that it had completed the evacuation of all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian National Authority (PNA)Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told reporters after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo that the Israeli army is expected to leave the Gaza Strip by Oct. 4 at the latest. Enditem