Israeli troops briefly divided Gaza into three parts
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New Israeli policy
The move into the Beit Hanoun area was the first time Israeli troops had entered a Palestinian-controlled area for any length of time since Gaza was handed over to the Palestinians in 1994 in line with the Oslo peace accords.
A number of Palestinians were injured during the Israeli move into Gaza
BBC Jerusalem correspondent Hilary Andersson says Washington's reaction may have brought the conflict back temporarily from the brink of further disaster.
But she warns that the key point is that Israel has made it clear that it has embarked on a change of policy.
Israel's new policy is that it still retains the right to move into Palestinian areas and to stay there when and where it sees fit, our correspondent says.
