(BBC)- - The Israeli army says it has withdrawn from the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

The military left at dawn on Tuesday after a six-day operation in the town, but left soldiers in surrounding areas.

"We withdrew our forces from Beit Hanoun after having completed our mission," said an army spokesman.

About 50 Palestinians died during the operation. Israel says it is targeting rocket-firing Palestinian militants operating from northern Gaza.