"the Israelis formally vacated the Gaza territory. "

Does withdrawal mean flying Israeli jets fly low over the land at night, causing sonic booms, sealing off the Gaza Strip so no food, bottled water or fuel supplies are coming in, destroying the power station, destroying the office of the Palestinian prime minister by air strike?

By ignoring offers to negotiate on the return of that Israeli soldier, the Israeli government shows that the only solution acceptable it is a military solution.