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 prime minister Ariel Sharon initiated a plan to remove Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. This policy was completed in August 2005. Sharon's announcement to leave Gaza caused significant shock among various political factions.