Photo Gallery Calm Before the Storm
Palestinian militants have said they will do whatever it takes to defend against a potential Israeli invasion into the Gaza Strip.
In the village of Beit Lahiya, residents have constructed a wall of sand to protect against an Israeli attack.
An Israeli soldier walks through clouds of dust and tank fumes on the Israeli-Gaza border.
The reason for the operation is the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants on Sunday. Here, an Israeli soldier reads the latest.
Dozens of tanks have been prepared for advance.
The Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has warned of a "comprehensive and ongoing military action" in Gaza if the soldier is not soon released.
An Israeli soldier checks out the turret of a cannon.
The Israelis have given no indication of when they might march into the Gaza Strip. In the mean time, the soldiers rest in the shade...
... or nap in front of bulldozers.
