Gaza pullout: Abdullah Al Gazawi

The BBC News website and BBCArabic.com spoke to four Israelis and four Palestinians for their thoughts on the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hakeem: Govt worker, Gaza "At the moment we live in a prison, but soon we will be free" Abdullah: Accountant, Gaza "Further agreements to improve conditions in Gaza must follow" Ashraf Accountant, W Bank "It is a trick to mislead domestic and world opinion" Lama: Aid worker, Gaza city "The Gaza pullout will make no difference - it's a unilateral step"

Ayelet: Lecturer, Haifa "I'm happy about the withdrawal - it will bring peace of mind" Shimon: 58, Pharmacist "I think it's a good move but I do have reservations" Arlene: Writer, Jerusalem "The withdrawal gives the upper hand to terrorists" Anita: Farmer, Gush Khatif "The evacuation is totally immoral and unethical"

Abdullah Al Gazawi, accountant, Gaza

I support any withdrawal from Gaza, but it should not be the one and only step.

Israel has decided to withdraw from Gaza because the Strip has 1.5 million Palestinians living in a very limited area.

The Israeli government wants to rid itself of Gaza and its problems. It also wants to prove to the world that its is serious in taking steps towards peace.

In any case, as long as there is an Israeli withdrawal, I welcome it.

However, further withdrawals should follow, because if we were to accept a limited settlement this would be an injustice to those Palestinians living in the West Bank.

It would be unfair to Palestinian refugees and there are millions of them living outside the territories.

It would also be unacceptable for the Israelis to turn Gaza, after the withdrawal, into a large prison whose land and sea borders as well as airspace are tightly controlled by them.

Further agreements to improve the conditions in Gaza must follow any withdrawal.

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The following comments reflect the balance of views received:

This withdraw is a positive step to reliving the pain and suffering of the people in Gaza, the road to freedom hopefully. I want to ask the settlers who intend on staying, don't people of other beliefs have the right for freedom?
Linx, Notts, England

I commend the Israelis on their pullout from the Gaza Strip, it is a brave move especially considering all of the security fears that some have. However, I think that asking Israel to pullout of all occupied territories is going to far. Israel has had to fight to maintain the small amount of land it has and is giving up a small portion unilaterally. In my opinion Israel has a right to keep the land that they have fought to keep.
Jason Puz, Olympia, WA, US

The pullout is a mixed blessing. With the settlers gone, the Palestinians can reclaim their land in Gaza. But this was a very small settlement block of 8,000 people. Israel is increasing settlements in the West Bank while creating its 'security wall' to imprison people in Gaza. Israel has to be sincere in its attempts for peace rather than use these small pullouts to strategically and politically improve its position.
Faisal, Philadelphia, USA

I congratulate the Palestinians on the withdrawal from the Gaza. I think it is a step towards peace.
Sani Adamu, Kaduna, Nigeria

By withdrawing from Gaza, Israel is doing a favour to itself, not to the Palestinians nor anybody else. Gaza with the triple barrier "security" wall around it is now officially the biggest and most crowded open sky jail in the world.
Sam, NYC, USA

Israel is only doing what international law and UN resolutions demanded over 30 years ago! It is returning only one percent of the occupied territories. In return it is taking more land in Jerusalem and other occupied territories. So let's not get too excited by this move.
Khai, London, England

I want to thank and commend the Israelis for withdrawing from Gaza. In doing this, they acknowledge that, just as the Jewish people need and deserve a homeland, so do the Palestinians. Some of the settlers are making big sacrifices to step towards peace. I admire Israel's bravery and fairness. For the Palestinians, I hope this is just the first step on a path towards withdrawal from all the disputed lands, although it may not be as fast as you would like. I hope the world steps forward to trade fairly with you, and give you the help you need to get your economy going. I hope that the Israelis and the Palestinians will learn, in time, to be good neighbours.
Liz Jolly, Glasgow