In pictures: Gaza withdrawal

1 of 10 Israeli army bulldozers worked through the night to remove cement-block checkpoints along Gaza's main highway

2 of 10 Israeli soldiers then secured their weaponry...

3 of 10 ... many clearly relieved to be pulling out following months of violence...

4 of 10 ... and Palestinian children in turn flashed victory signs and waved flags

5 of 10 Israeli and Palestinian officers worked together as the Palestinians prepared to take over checkpoints

6 of 10 For some residents in Beit Hanoun the Israeli presence had come at a price...this woman's orchard was destroyed

7 of 10 With the Israeli soldiers gone residents will have to clean up the mess left behind...

8 of 10 ... and Palestinian bulldozers moved in to begin the clear up operation

9 of 10 But while Palestinian officers got used to being back in charge of security in northern and central Gaza...

10 of 10 ... others were happy simply to be returning home