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At midnight, Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip began. Signs warning people not to enter were put up on crossings.

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Palestinians began to celebrate Israel's departure from land which it has occupied since 1967.

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Some Israeli settlers have been burning their unwanted belongings, rather than leave them for the Palestinians.

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One group of settlers took part in a morning prayer at the beachfront settlement of Shirat Hayam.

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Meanwhile, eviction notices have been delivered across the Gaza Strip settlements.

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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal policy has been fiercely opposed by some in Israel.

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Around 40,000 Israeli police and soldiers, and 7,500 from the Palestinian security forces, are overseeing the withdrawal.

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The soldiers will spend two days asking settlers to leave, before beginning to use force later in the week.

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It is no easy task to convince residents that the time has come to leave their homes.

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Many religious settlers in Gaza believe in a God-given Greater Israel.

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Resistance is particularly strong in the southern settlements, where many residents are determined to make a stand.

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The effect of having to force countrymen from their homes is taking an emotional toll on the soldiers themselves.