How many settlements were handed over to the Palestinians? [originaltext] It’

It’s nearly a month since the last Israeli tanks rolled out of the Gaza Strip. The withdrawal marked the end of Israel’s attempt to settle in the territory, which it had occupied for nearly forty years. [26]More than twenty settlements—built in breach of international law—were abandoned and handed over to the Palestinians. But Israel was determined that what had been the homes of Israeli families wouldn’t fall into the hands of militant groups, like the Hamas organization, which had been attacking the settlements for years. The army bulldozed almost all the houses—leaving behind tracts of rubble.