Israeli troops, some smiling and dancing, began to withdraw from the Gaza Strip yesterday after Israel and Hamas militants declared an end to their three-week war. However, neither side achieved long-term goals and the burden of consolidating the fragile calm fell to world leaders.

The truce brought relief to Gaza's citizens, who took stock of the devastation in relative safety for the first time since Israel launched a December 27 offensive. And it brought more trauma, as rescue workers in surgical masks ventured into what were once no-go areas and pulled 100 bodies from buildings pulverised by bombs.

"Tension eased in southern Israel, the target of Palestinian rocket fire, even though Hamas launched nearly 20 rockets in a final salvo before announcing a ceasefire. Three Israelis were lightly wounded, while two Palestinians were killed in last-minute fighting, medics said.

No desire to stay

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said his country had no desire to stay in Gaza, which was vacated by Israel in 2005 even though Gaza's airspace, coastal waters and border crossings remained under Israeli control.

"We didn't set out to conquer Gaza, we didn't set out to control Gaza, we don't want to remain in Gaza and we intend on leaving Gaza as fast as possible," Olmert said at a dinner in Jerusalem with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Spain.

Despite losses suffered by Hamas, political chief Ismail Haniyeh claimed "a heavenly victory" in remarks broadcast on Al-Jazeera Arabic news channel.

The United States and the United Nations yesterday welcomed the apparent end to the latest round of fighting in the Middle East.

Iran said a key to calm is the opening of border crossings that Israel and Egypt have kept virtually sealed since the militant group staged a violent takeover of Gaza in 2007. In Egypt, European and Arab leaders sought to prepare a long-term deal to solidify the truce. The gathering failed to deliver specifics on international monitors to stop weapons from reaching Gaza's Hamas rulers.