The last Israeli soldier withdrew from the Gaza Strip yesterday, the fourth day of a ceasefire that ended a 22-day blitz on the Islamist Hamas movement in which 1,300 Palestinians were killed.

The Israel Defence Forces issued a statement saying all troops had returned to Israeli territory ending Operation Cast Lead. "The forces are now redeployed outside the Gaza Strip," it said.

The ceasefire has held firm and the withdrawal was completed the day after the inauguration of US President Barack Obama.

Middle East eyes are now turned to Washington watching the first moves of the new president.