The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will begin withdrawing logistic equipment from the Gaza Strip in the next two weeks, Israeli Ha'aretz daily quoted military officials as saying on Friday.

Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said logistical equipment, such as food facilities, would soon be pulled out of Gaza.

"The idea is not to keep everything for the last minute," one official said, adding troops and military vehicles would not be included in this initial withdrawal.

Officials said plans have been drawn up to relocate all forces in Gaza to nearby bases in southern Israel. Construction on those bases is expected to begin soon.

Israeli citizens were banned from relocating to the Gaza Strip as part of its preparations for a withdrawal from the coastal area this July, the IDF said in a statement Friday. The order went into effect immediately.

In early May, the IDF plans to declare the Gaza Strip a closed military zone. The army will then be able to prevent people who do not have proof of residence in the strip from entry.

Israel decided to implement the disengagement plan in July, in which all the 21 Jewish settlements in the strip and four in northern West Bank will be evacuated.

Source: Xinhua