Israeli forces are expected to withdraw from the Philadelphi route along the Gaza-Egypt border in October if an agreement is reached with Egypt, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said in comments published Wednesday.

Local Ha'aretz daily quoted Mofaz as saying that Israel has already decided to leave the area and the head of Political Security Department of the Defense Ministry, Amos Gilad, is set to hold another round of talks over the matter in Egypt on Sunday.

Israel hopes that the meeting will lead to agreement on the final details of an Egyptian-Israeli deal, which allows 750 Egyptian police officers to be deployed on the western side of the Philadelphi route.

The planned withdrawal will follow the evacuation of all 21 settlements and Israeli military bases in the Gaza Strip due to begin in mid August.

Source: Xinhua