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Israel lowered its flag over the Gaza Strip on Sunday, clearing the way to complete a troop pullout and hand the territory over to the Palestinians on Monday after 38 years of occupation. (Photo: Xinhua)

    GAZA, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The first Palestinian security forces entered at predawn on Monday the evacuated settlements in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli army forces had just withdrawn from there, Palestinian security sources said.

    The sources said that several buses full of Palestinian national security forces officers and cars full of ammunition entered into the settlements of Gani Tal, Naveh Dekalim, Tal Katifand Nitzer Hazani west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip, as well as the settlement of Morag south of Khan Younis. 

    Colonel Jamal Kayed, chief of national security forces in southern Gaza Strip, said he gave instructions to his national security forces to enter into the settlements that the Israeli army forces withdrew from.

    Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets, dancing and cheering, and some other militants and gunmen fired in the air to express their happiness for the end of the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip that lasted for 38 years.  Enditem 

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