Israeli forces have withdrawn from the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, ending one of their biggest operations in the past year.
The Israeli army said soldiers had left the town, but that troops remain in other parts of northern Gaza.
During a week-long incursion which centred on Beit Hanoun, 52 Palestinians were killed, more than half of them said to be militants.
One Israeli soldier died in the operation.
Israel claimed the offensive, one of the biggest since the withdrawal of settlers from Gaza last year, was designed to curb militant rocket fire.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Beit Hanoun. ICRC deputy director in Gaza, Urban Caluori, said his organisation had not been able to assess what he described as a 'serious situation' because of sustained fighting.
While the Finnish presidency of the European Union said it deplored 'the growing number of civilian casualties' from the Israeli operation and warned against the 'disproportionate use of violence'.
Abbas and Haniyeh in talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh have held talks that could lead to the formation of a unity government, potentially easing an embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
Mr Haniyeh's Hamas party has struggled to govern under Western sanctions imposed over its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
It took office in March after beating Mr Abbas's once-dominant Fatah faction in elections.
The stand-off between Hamas and Fatah has triggered violence between the two factions, raising fears of civil war.
A previous unity government deal announced in September quickly collapsed, mainly over Hamas's unwillingness to ease its anti-Israel stance.
