Israel's then prime minister Ariel Sharon began a policy of disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2003. This policy was fully implemented in August 2005. Sharon's announcement to disengage from Gaza came as a tremendous shock to his critics both on the left and on the right.
In 2003, Israel's then prime minister Ariel Sharon started a policy of leaving the Gaza Strip. This withdrawal was completed in August 2005. Sharon's announcement to evacuate Gaza caught the attention of critics across the political spectrum.