JERUSALEM ( CNN ) -- Israeli troops have completed their withdrawal from Gaza after a three-week military campaign against Hamas militants , the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday . Palestinians look at an damaged rocket launcher left behind by Israeli forces . `` The forces are now redeployed outside the Gaza Strip , and are prepared for any development , '' a military statement read . During their withdrawal , Israeli troops warned Gaza residents to avoid unexploded bombs or shells left behind and report their location to Israeli authorities . Israel said it had achieved its goal to halt Hamas ' firing of rockets into southern Israel from Gaza . Hamas , the Palestinian militant group that has controlled the territory since 2007 , also declared victory in the conflict during a rally in Gaza City on Tuesday . Israeli troops began to withdraw Sunday following tentative , separate cease-fire declarations by Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Hamas . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon , who visited the territory Tuesday , criticized both sides and the international community for what he called their `` collective political failure '' in settling the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict . `` I have condemned from the outbreak of this conflict the excessive use of force by Israeli forces in Gaza . I view the rocket attacks into Israel as completely unacceptable . We need to restore basic respect for civilians , '' he said . Watch troops prepare to withdraw » . The conflict , which began December 27 , has left more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead . Confirmation of the Israeli withdrawal came within a day of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new president of the United States , replacing George W. Bush , whose administration was among the most supportive of Israel in decades . Ban said he hoped Obama would consider settling the conflict `` a matter of priority . '' Speaking during a visit to Sderot , the southern Israeli city that has endured rocket fire from Hamas for years , Ban said the Bush administration was `` leading and heavily engaged '' in the region , but added , `` Unfortunately , we have not achieved the goals . '' Obama has vowed to move swiftly and has said he was assembling a strong team to be `` immediately engaged '' on `` day one . '' In a statement welcoming the new U.S. president , Olmert said Israel and the United States would remain `` full partners in advancing peace and stability in the Middle East . '' CNN 's Shira Medding contributed to this report .
Gaza says it has removed its troops from Israel after 2007 offensive . Both Israel , U.N. have declared victory in conflict . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized both sides for fighting . 13 people have died in Gaza operation .