Israeli ground forces to quit Gaza ahead of truce

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli ground forces will completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip ahead of an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire set to begin at 0500 GMT (0100 EDT), a military spokesman said. "The Israel Defense Forces will be redeployed in defensive positions outside the Gaza Strip and we will maintain those defensive positions," Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner told reporters. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)