The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew its ground troops from the Gaza Strip early Monday, completing the first stage of the activity dubbed "Operation Hot Winter."

The IDF ground troops' withdrawal came following days of incursion with an aim of checking Palestinian rocket attacks against southern Israel.

  Israeli soldiers return from the Gaza strip, walking next to Kibbutz Kfar Azza early Mar. 3, 2008.

However, while Israeli army troops were leaving Gaza, about 9 Qassam and Grad rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israeli town.