When the last Israeli soldiers roll out of the Gaza Strip tomorrow, will Israel’s 38-year occupation of the territory be over?Israel says yes, the Palestinians say no, and the two sides are still wrangling with several important issues linked to this question.The Israeli troop pullout and last month’s evacuation of the Jewish settlers means no Israelis will be left in Gaza, and Israel’s control has effectively ended, Israel says.Daniel Taub, deputy legal adviser in Israel’s Foreign Ministry says ‘‘the dismantling of the Israeli military government brings to an end Israeli authority over the area and transfers its responsibility to the Palestinians’’.But Palestinians are adamant that the occupation is continuing, just in revised form. They say Israel will still have the final word on people and goods flowing in and out of Gaza, controlling the coastal territory from the borders rather than from inside Gaza.‘‘Any suggestion coming from Israel that the status of Gaza will change is ludicrous,’’ said Nasser al-Kidwa, the Palestinian foreign minister. ‘‘They are controlling the borders, the air, the water, and we need approval for the crossing points and everything else. So Gaza still remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory’’.At present, Gaza’s legal status is not expected to be tested in a court or before an international organization like the United Nations. However, both sides say that the way the world views Gaza after the Israeli evacuation will influence the way the larger conflict plays out in coming years. It will also establish a precedent for the West Bank, where Israel has a much larger presence than it ever did in Gaza. —NYT
