Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today he would delay Israel's pullout from Gaza by three weeks, to mid-August.
The decision is understood to be to avoid clashing with a traditional Jewish period of mourning.
Speaking on Israel's Channel One television, Mr Sharon said the withdrawal would take place immediately after the Jewish mourning day of Tisha B'Av.
This would set the withdrawal for 15, 16 or 17 August, but Mr Sharon said he did not want to commit himself to an exact date.
