The Israeli army has begun handing eviction notices to Jewish settlers in Gaza marking the start of Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian territory. Gaza’s 9,000 settlers now have until Wednesday to vacate their homes. The army has already sealed off the Gaza Strip and Israeli citizens have been barred from entering any settlement slated for evacuation. Israel has threatened to forcibly remove any remaining settlers beginning on Wednesday. But thousands of residents have vowed to resist their eviction. Settlers have already begun blocking access to the settlements by IDF troops. Meanwhile Palestinians have begun holding celebrations to mark Israel’s withdrawal. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas hailed the move as “historic” but said Israel should also pull out of the West Bank.